A Bit of Silk, Sentiments aplenty !

Hello from the blissful corners of my parents' home ! 

Whenever I come here, I am on a special look out for those days when my mother is in a generous mood and allows me a peek into the 'petis' that hoard treasures that she received from my grandparents. The other day I had the most amazing time rummaging through the shelves of one such cupboard, and my eye caught a glimpse of some of the most beautiful sarees that belonged to my Daadi. 

I love sarees. No outfit in the world compares to the beauty of those six yards. A saree can be feminine, it can strong, it can be smart, it can be festive, it can be bold, it can be shy, it can be flirtatious, it can be no-nonsense, it can be...whatever you want it to be...beautiful in all forms. It is fluid, malleable, ready to mould itself to whatever mood you are in. I now live in a country where a saree is so rare, that it is literally a traffic stopper, yet I make it a point to wear one whenever possible and love the appreciative smiles I get from the locals, at the sight of this fascinating attire :-) 

My Daadi (whom we fondly called 'Mummum') was an immensely strong and independent lady, with a magnificent personality. I remember she would carry herself with such grace and drape her sarees with a confidence and elegance that was synonymous with her identity. Her sarees were 'a part of her',  the impeccable pleats, the casually slung aanchal, a beautiful vision, mostly in pristine shades of cream, off-white and beige.

When I touched these beautiful vintage fabrics that belong to her, most of them now nearly a hundred years old, the true meaning of the phrase 'poetry on the loom' came to life...

Starting with a beautiful weave from Bengal that just took my breath away, the intricate 'jaal-work' in grey-green, woven all over a neutral cream background with a lovely four inch cream border and the gold 'bootis' adding just the right amount of shimmer. This made me think of the 1940s, of a strand of pearls and of leisurely lunches at the grand old clubs of Calcutta...

I will be honest and share here, that like most other women, I have a weakness for pink, and thus far I thought I had seen all the pinks the world had to offer, until I saw this...

..and it took my breath away...infinite layers of the prettiest pink tissue I had ever seen with threads of pure silver 'zari' running through the swathes...

This was given to my mother during her wedding, as one of the 'saas-ki-sarees', part of the gifts that are given from the mother-in-law's own trunk as she welcomes the daughter-in-law home.  

Speaking of tissues, I fell in love with this one in cream where gold and silver 'zari' come together in the beautiful border, with just a hint of indigo in contrast. How gorgeous this one would look, the hair coiled on top,paired with a classic brocade blouse and gold jhumkas...an image that could very well be an artist's inspiration !

Here's another one with an exquisite border, so striking against the modest grey background...

...understated elegance...simple yet so beautiful...

And this one is for the love for sarees in the summers...a lovely mauve  'Dhaakai' with motifs in cream and yellow all over it and a blue edge which I love !

This made me think of an afternoon spent in tiled verandahs, of low slung arm chairs, of the 'hata-pakha' and the keybunch tied to the pallu...

And while there are more I would love to share with you, I will sign off here with this stunning vintage 'banarsi' silk...resplendent in pinks and greens, interspersed with 'zari' all over the aanchal that left me swooning.

A timeless classic, perfect for a wedding or a festival...this one.

Kudos to my mother for preserving these beautiful heirlooms so well, who would say looking at them, that they are nearly a century old ! Thank you Ma for letting me take these precious pieces out of the cupboard and for allowing me to photograph them :-)

This treasure trove has a zillion sentiments and emotions woven amidst the 'resham' and the'zari'. I hope you enjoyed it. I am looking forward to the day I can wear them and envelope myself in my grandmother's love as I imagine how beautifully and gracefully she would have carried them on herself :-)

A beautiful start to the New Year !

It is the time again for new beginnings, new resolutions, new diaries and calendars and for me to wish you every happiness and joy in the year that has just started...2015 is here and I hope it has begun with a bang for all who stop by here!May it be the stuff that dreams are made of !

For us it has been a 'wild start'. I have just returned from a short 'digital detox' in the jungles, a few days with no technology, no 'phablet-tablets', no television and where the only 'twitter' you have access to is that of the birds !

I am thus starting 2015 here, on a slightly different note, by sharing a treasure trove with you today that is really close to my heart, a snapshot of my recent experience at a place that I have loved visiting as a child, and which remains as dear to me today as it was back then, Kanha National Park. If there is one place that I can truly identify as a treasure trove, it is these beautiful jungles in the heart of Central India, a place that defines the words 'serene' and 'pristine'. I grew up in Central India and have spent many wonderful days with my family in the forests of Madhya Pradesh. To me, the idea of a perfect getaway is a wildlife safari over any other form of vacation. I think I get my love for the forests from my father who is nothing short of an encyclopaedia when it comes to this subject and he planned this wonderful vacation for us to send off the year that was, and to welcome the new year that is.

In a world full of luxurious resorts, we stayed at a wonderfully rustic forest rest house that is inside the gates of the park.

This is right in the middle of the jungle, with meadows full of elephant grass in front of it and the forests  in the distance. There are no barriers or barbed wires and the staff says they have witnessed wild animals, even the big cat, come and do the rounds of the verandahs many a times. All that really stops you from walking right into the meadow beyond the rest house is a strong instinct of self preservation and a small signage that suggests it might not be prudent to venture outside the wooden stumps.

After dusk, you can enjoy the moonlit silhouette of the forests in the distance, and stay up all night, counting the twinkling  dots in the star-spangled sky. It is the perfect getaway for nature lovers like my husband and me.

We soaked in the relaxed, laid-back feel of the place, enjoyed the 'dal-sabzi' made by the cook and relished many rounds of 'adrak chai' through the day ! It took me back in time as I recalled some memorable trips with family on other occasions in the early nineties, the bonfire, the guitar, the anecdotes, the laughter that accompanied all the fun ! It felt as though nothing had changed, when so much really had !

Safaris in Kanha start as early as six a.m. during the morning and resume again after lunch. We would be up everyday at the crack of dawn, donning our woollens, getting ready for the hunt ahead...every safari brings with it a new excitement, a renewed anticipation, of all that lies in the dense forests, the thought of the flora and fauna that we may chance upon...of the adventure that awaited us.
The jungles that cover an area of 940 square kilometres are divided into 5 zones and specific points within them have some delightful names such as 'Jamun Tola', 'Sal Ghat', 'Bamhni-Dadar', 'Bandri-Chaapar' and the like, each name with its own interesting story behind it. About 55 jeeps are allowed inside the gates every day with a specific route and they bifurcate into the different trails from the entrance of the park.

Kanha is home to about 96 tigers, and the jungles provide their king a befitting abode to reside in. The tall 'sal' trees, the yellow elephant grass and green bamboo thickets make the most majestic home for the Royal Bengal Tiger as they do for the other animals and birds that live there. During winters it is difficult to look beyond 10 metres into the sides of the narrow muddy trails that run through the jungle, the dense foliage providing the perfect camouflage for its residents.

In forests as dense as these, especially during winters when the foliage is really thick, the chance of spotting wildlife is limited and it is rare that you will get to see the big cat. But Kanha did not disappoint us and we had some lovely encounters in the wild. We were lucky to see herds of 'cheetal' or the spotted deer, the endangered 'Barasingha', the 'Gaur' or the Indian Bison, a brief glimpse of the leopard and believe it or not, we had three unexpected dates with the king of the jungle himself :-)

The spotted deer treads carefully as it crosses a pool of water to get to the other side...

...while another herd stared at us inquisitively as they saw our jeep approaching them in the open grassland...

The Indian bison (thankfully) ignored us as we went by...content to enjoy his meal and handpick the choicest greens for his grub..

A mother-son 'sambar' duo darted across the trail, startled by our jeep...

...while the king of the jungle strode the meadows in regal splendour, indifferent to our presence or that of any one else...there is no sight more humbling than this, a glimpse of the Royal Bengal Tiger in his kingdom...

The jungles of Kanha are truly majestic. I have had the good fortune of seeing other wildlife parks, including the great Kruger in South Africa, but Kanha is in a class by itself. Even if you fail to spot the tiger, which is of course what every visitor hopes for, the forests are mesmerising enough to transport you into a different world. The sounds of the jungle, the knock of the wood pecker, the call of the barking deer, the scent of the flowering trees, the sight of the the low lying mist over the marshy grounds, the fluttering of the green wings of the alexander parakeet in the sky, it is mother nature's soul-stirring embrace, beautiful and mystic. I am no wildlife photographer, yet many a times I would stand up in the jeep to take a picture and be unable to click, because I found myself struggling to do justice to the beauty of the landscape and the expanse of the lush forest through my lens. I would then sit back in the jeep and be content savouring the sight, capturing it through my eyes and carrying back beautiful memories of this treasure trove in my heart.

Christmas in the heart spells Christmas in the air !

The run up to Christmas is here and I want to wish you, my dear readers, a wonderfully warm and merry holiday season. I am sure you have been busy decorating your home, putting up the Christmas tree and adorning it with beautiful ornaments, painting your house red and green and baking all sorts of sinful goodies :-) I really hope that this time of the year is special for all of you, with your loved ones, and you get to share countless moments full of laughter and joy with your family.

I simply love this time of the year, for it is the season when the dew drops settle comfortably on the grass at night and wait for you to wake up to them in the morning, a time when you draw patterns with your fingers on the frost-covered window panes of your home, when fireball poinsettias are bright clumps of scarlet, ablaze everywhere, when the house smells like heaven, full of the intoxicating aroma of cloves, nutmeg and clementines that go into the mulled wine simmering on your gas top , when all hands in the house come together to chop candied peel and dry fruit for that delicious christmas cake. It is the season that makes you think of reindeers and the snow, of Santa and stockings, of pantomimes and puddings, holidays and hollies, of cranberries and celebration, bells and baubles, mistletoe and merriment, of family and fun.

It is also a good time to look back and think of the year that has gone by, to ponder over the experiences of the recent months that have enriched your life, to thank the Almighty for the blessings that have come your way, and also for the hardships, for they have made you a stronger person in turn.

More importantly, it is also an opportunity to give and to multiply the love, so if you have been thinking of adding a smile to someone's face, go ahead and do so now! Let it be a hand-written greeting to a family member, a phone call to a friend overseas, a new sweater or blanket for the help at home or anything that you believe can brighten someone else's day. I read this lovely quote somewhere, and am sharing it with you here...

"So remember while December brings only the Christmas day, in the year let there be Christmas in the things you do and say"

On this note, I fervently hope and pray that this Christmas kindles the spirit of charity and mutual respect in the heart of all, and that the season engages the world to 'accept', to 'tolerate' and to become a better and brighter place, for everyone who is a part of it. Let it not be limited to a date, rather let it be a state of mind. Signing off with all my good wishes to you and to those who are special to you. Let us attempt, best as we can, to spread the good cheer all around, and while we are at it, may the Yuletide spirit continue to permeate our lives and flourish in our hearts and minds. 

My love for Minhwa Art continues...

Hello everyone. It has been a while since I put a post together and I hope you are well and have been enjoying the last few weeks of this year. I have been reminiscing a lot about the months that have gone by and have realised that it has been a very eventful year indeed !I have spent time adapting to the ways and culture of this beautiful country, travelled quite a bit and seen new places around Korea, set up our home here, and spent many beautiful hours enjoying my time in front of the easel and pursuing my love for art. 

Today I am happy to share with you a project that I completed a few months ago. If you remember, I had written to you about 'Minhwa' (Korean folk art) painting earlier. The portrait of the tiger was my first piece of work and I was absolutely hooked onto the fluid grace and beauty of Minhwa art.  Subsequent to the tiger, I worked on peonies, a project that took many weeks of painstaking effort, long hours of concentration and an enormous amount of patience. After finishing the painting, I went to the local framing shop and got the panels put onto a traditional wooden screen and here is the result... :-)

Yes, we now have our first piece of 'DIY' 'furniture' in our home, this partition that adds the traditional Korean touch to our casa. Peony or 'moran' is the queen of flowers in Korea. They are said to symbolise wealth, happiness, purity, love and feminine beauty according to Korean folklore. 

Perhaps the most common way of depicting Korean folk art, right from the royal palaces to the houses of the common people has been the Korean folding screen. It has been said that the lives of Koreans began and ended with the screen, since they provided privacy during birth and respect during death. 

This screen has really added so much colour to our apartment. It helps me block out grey foggy days now that winter is in full swing here. It is also light weight enough to be carried to different areas in the house and helps me create new vignettes in the various corners of our home. 

Korean folding screens or 'byeongpung' can sometimes be as wide as twelve panels, with the continuation of a single painting across the panels. This particular painting with the Peony motif all over it is one of the most traditional patterns Korean art has seen over many centuries. 

It has nine peonies in full bloom on each panel, and others which are yet to bloom. Every flower is a project in its own right since the style of painting it, the techniques involved in shading it and the pigments mixed for it differ. 

I have learnt a lot of things as I undertook this project. Of course, the style of painting, the strokes, the control over the water brush as one shades the flowers are some of the learnings, but the key takeaway is a truck-load of patience :-) Art teaches us so many things, patience is definitely a virtue that one can hope to acquire when one undertakes a Minhwa project :-)

Am I going to be brave enough to do a twelve panel folding screen someday...? :-) Well, I never really thought I could pull off even two of them so I do believe in 'never say never' :-) While twelve panels maybe a little too ambitious right now for a novice like me, I am currently working on something different, and I promise to share pictures of it soon. Until then, leaving you with a few more photos of my peonies, I hope they have succeeded in adding a little colour to your day :-)

Looking forward to your feedback like always. I shall see you soon again. Have a lovely weekend !

Of sparkles, sweets & the light within your hearts...Happy Diwali !

Diwali this year...a day of many firsts...our first together...the first one in our own home...my first in Korea...the first away from India...and it has just been a wonderful magical experience recreating the celebration !

The day had started on a lovely bright note and the sunlight lit up every corner of our place, it shone upon the bunch of roses, and bathed my 'jhoola-ganesha' too...

The land of the 'khimchee' and the 'bibimbap' is still under exposed to Indian traditions...we do have a couple of 'Indian' stores where we get our desi provisions, but to hope for 'mitti-diyas' and 'torans' is asking for a bit too much :-) Nor do we have the luxury of Bikanerwala and Haldiram's outlets like some of the other Asian countries...so I ended up doing a bit of DIY (do-it-yourself, for the uninitiated) projects for our home such as these 'hand made diyas'...

...and converted unused mason jars into candle holders....added the 'fall touch' to them by glueing on a few maple leaves from my visit to the park a few weeks back, tied some ribbons and they looked all dressed up :-)

These combined with some lovely earthen 'diyas' that my Mom-in-law sent for us from India, we had enough to keep the home lit up and glowing :-)

Much as I love terracotta and brass, I do think glass has its own charm. I had picked up these textured glass candle stands last month in Korea, and tried out a combination of blue candles with them.Truly hadn't realised earlier how festive the colour blue can be too !

Don't they look magical ?

When you wish everyone 'prosperity' on Diwali, the most evident and 'visible' impact can usually be seen on the weighing scales, thanks to all the sweets that we end up gorging on :-) I made my own 'besan laddoos' for the festival. Did overdo the 'ghee' a little bit, but what the heck, it's Diwali and a little fat always helps the complexion, says my mother ! :-)

Thus far, I have always seen my mother lead the  'laxmi puja', today I thought of her as we replicated it in our home. Love my MIL for sending us two beautiful 'pratimas' of 'laxmi ganesha'...one in silver and the other in my favourite terracotta...I lined them with a simple pattern made with coloured rice, lit up some 'bandhani' covered 'diyas' around them and prayed for the well being of all those I love.

I must share with you that almost everything that could be converted into votive holders in our home was transformed into one :-)

Here is a lovely antique glass butter dish, shaped like a mermaid, gifted to me by my parents that I used to float some flowers and a tea light...

...a handwoven bracelet garlands the candle in this one...

...and a bright and beautiful 'toran' (that I picked up from a timely trip to Singapore last week) surrounds the flickering flame of the candle here...

The 'paan-daan' that I love so much also became a host to some blue tea lights and flowers...loved how this one turned out !

Fresh flowers adorn the home as always...nothing quite compares to the way they light up the home. I arranged a few as the centre piece on our coffee table to add floral festivities to our apartment !

A spanking new 'urli' is an addition to our home that I absolutely love...used it to float some marigolds and candles...

The better half indulged me with this lovely brass 'ganesha' lamp...it looked so beautiful all lit up, with the Lord assuming a graceful dancing pose...

As the lamps flicker in our home and the lights sparkle around us, I wish you and all those dear to you the greatest joy this Diwali ! May you 'shine' in all you endeavour to achieve, may your homes be blessed with all that is divine and may the light of hope and optimism never fade from your hearts. Best and nothing but the best for all of you....have a beautiful and safe festive season. Do continue to enjoy the revelries ! :-)