Ganapathi Bappa Moriya!

"Ganesh Chaturthi" - excitement, grandeur, customs and traditions surrounding this festival is something I like to absorb completely. The whole idea behind celebrating each Indian festival at my place is to introduce our 8 year old son to his Indian roots and to inculcate an understanding and appreciation of what, how and why of our Indian culture. Apart from that, it is a wonderful time to revisit old memories and recreate the magic. Not to mention the festive spread that you get to enjoy in the company of family and friends. 

However, this year the scene is a bit different at my place. We are in the process of moving to our new home! What that means is we are dealing with packing, brown boxes and chaos. So keeping that in mind, I kept things simple and opted out of the traditional route of celebration. I thought it would be refreshing to have pretty little vignettes with Ganeshas in different materials as the anchors, scattered all through the home to set the mood for the festivities.  

So first up is the Kondapalli Toy Ganesha. Typically used in Dasara Kolus, I decided to bring him out of storage and join in a little early in the celebration. The Kondapalli toys follow a 400 year old tradition and hail from the "Toy Colony" of Kondapalli in Andra Pradesh. Carved out of locally sourced "softwood" known as Tella Poniki, the pieces are hand painted with vegetable dyes and vibrant enamel colors to breathe life into the creation. The most popular of these toys are the Dasavatarams (ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu). I've paired my Ganesha with soft peach colored roses gently tucked into a Moroccan tea glass and a traditional brass arti diya for a traditional touch.

Next, we have a Ganesha fashioned out of "Resin". A piece that I've had for more than 20 years. Bought at a local arts and crafts fair in Bangalore, the elaborate detailing on it was something that I fell in love with at the first glance. I had originally placed it as a good luck charm in my car (in India). When we moved to the US, he moved with us too:)

These beautiful "Terracotta" Ganeshas are one of my absolute favorites. Love their cutesy aura. The larger one I picked myself from Pottery Town in Bangalore (again ages ago) and the smaller one was one of the items that I looted from my parents place;) With little terracotta diyas acting as urlis, this vignette is all about earthy tones. 

A contemporary "Glass" Ganesha takes center stage in this vignette. I love the opaque quality of this figurine and especially enjoy looking at it when the evening sun casts a warm glow on it. Looks comfortable in the company of my brass inkpot that's multitasking as my vase for this vignette.  

This traditional vignette has a "Brass" Ganesha as its focal point. As its backdrop, a pretty calendar framed makes for some great art. Strings of lotus seed and rudraksha beads together with red roses housed in my brass mortar completes the look.

And finally, a simple vignette that echoes the various greens of nature. An inlaid stone marble table top forms the base for this vignette with the inlay patterns forming an almost rangoli like effect. The Green Aventurine Natural "Stone" Ganesha looks serene in his natural setting with a brass vintage rice measuring cup serving as a vase for some  fresh cut stems from the garden.    

The warmest of wishes to you and your family on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi ! 

Images:Clicked by me. Please do not use without prior written permission.

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.

Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in Glorious Technicolor

Ganesh Chaturthi, a celebration that I most certainly wait for year after year, is just round the corner. I love everything that is associated with this festival - handpicking the perfect Ganesha idol for the special puja, preparing the appetizing modaks that vanish as soon as the bhog ( offering to God during religious ceremonies) has been offered and glitzing up my decor to take the festivities to a whole new level. 

However, things have changed over the years. I strive to do my bit for the environment and do not indulge in the painted statues that are readily available in the market. In fact, we have gone from handpicking to homemade. We make ours at home with bio-degradable modelling clay. As for the modaks, I like to serve up South Indian delicacies and have bookmarked a few favorite go-to- recipes that are quick and easy (one of them being Sia's Vegan Avalakki Payasa).The only thing that has amplified with time, is my fervor to spruce up my home for the celebration. I do not curb the excitement and grandeur that surrounds this festival. Traditional but special touches like bringing out my antique brass collection and seasonal flowers, transform my home in no time. 

Let's start off with this dramatic color combination of Royal Blue and Red, with gold thrown in for the festive sparkle. I've used an inverted colored glass votive holder from World Market as a pedestal for my brass Natya-Ganesha. Moroccan tea glasses serve as votive holders. I've paired the Blue Chicory flowers (found in abundance at this time around in Virginia) with a simple brass vase. In fact, this entire vignette was sparked off with this fascinating wild flower in mind.

I love keeping things as traditional as possible and have brought out the antique brass puja thali, kumkum container and a few prints of Ganesha Tanjore paintings (I plan to frame  later), add color and drama to the festive celebration. 

Our next Ganesha vignette, revolves around the time tested analogous color combination of Orange and Yellow. The heart of this vignette is a very special "Ganesha". A new addition to our home, this detailed, hand crafted brass Ganesha was gifted to me by my parents on their visit this year. He sure looks happy in his new home:) To frame the vignette, I've used a Rajasthani glass work cushion cover and I love how the mirrors picks up the sun streaming in through a near by window and lend a festive shimmer to this display. 

Pass up the regular glass vases and bring in the traditional elements at play for a festive environment. A bunch of yellow Zagreb's from my garden displayed in a brass Kindi (Kindi is a traditional water vessel used in Kerala during various religious rituals and ceremonies) bring this vignette alive and help tie in the colors together.

Looking to create a quick regal ambiance this festive season, then this vignettes for you. Place a brass Ganesha statue in the center of a urli and float seasonal flowers to add celebratory atmosphere to your home. Working with nature's bounty, I've used Miss Molly Buddleia blooms to add a purple and mauve hue to this setting. Paired with matte gold, it's a regal affair alright. 

And finally, a look at the wooden Ganesha statue that graces my entryway this festive season. This wooden statue was sourced from Kallakurichi (Tamil Nadu, India). It was love at first sight. The trip (more than 20 years ago) to Kallakurichi with mom, dad and a dear friend (who is no more), was quiet an experience and we came home with car loads of these magnificent pieces. The whole purpose of our trip was to spend some quality time with a group of talented community of carvers out there and personally observe the entire process.

The whole trip is vivid in my memory. I remember interacting with one of the carvers as he explained that they adopted traditional methods of wooden carving process to this day. The art form, passed down through the generations follows the rules of iconography described in the Shilpa Shastra (which is the ultimate treatise on image making). He explained that the master craftsman is responsible for tracing out the blue print of the basic shape with a chisel onto the wood. The process is then taken forward by a group of assistants (family members) under the guidance of the master.

Gladiolas (from my friend, Vijaya's garden), a table runner used to anchor the setting and a traditional brass hanging bell, completes this entryway.  

I do hope you are inspired by these simple decor ideas, experimental color palettes and my infectious enthusiasm. Despite the incursion of busy schedules and appointments, do take the time to celebrate life and make it special for your family and you :)

Subtle changes from red to yellow make a huge difference in this vignette. So experiment and let the decorator in you take over.......

Wishing you and yours, A Very Happy Ganesha Chaturthi !!!

Images: Clicked by me. Please do not use without prior written permission. 

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.

Just in time for some Ganesha Chaturthi Inspiration !!!!!

Ganesha Chaturthi (birthday of the elephant-headed deity), one of the most anticipated festivals at my place, will soon be upon us. The spirit of this occasion is infectious. I'm thousands of miles away from the heart of the celebration, but the festivities have already begun  here in Virginia - my home. I've always had a soft corner for this zoomorphic deity Ganesha. Maybe his iconic status as the remover of obstacles and widely revered as a patron of education and learning had something to do with that. He's also one of the very few God's with a cute quotient as his pot-belly and big ears are very appealing to me. 

There are a number of interpretations to the symbolic form of the Ganesha. The most important lesson that I take away with me is that a supreme power like him is humble enough to ride the nethermost of creatures, a mouse.

While growing up, my sister and I were allowed to  help with the flower decorations and puja preparations. The best part about Indian festivals is the spread that moms and grand-moms make on such occasions. My sister and I would gormandize the modaks (sweet and savory rice dumplings, fried or steamed with a variety of delicious combinations of sesame, peanuts, coconut and jaggery to name a few) knowing fully well that overindulgence could make us sick.We'd have friends and neighbors visiting our homes to wish us  and exchange delectable goodies. And at the end of the day, a really bitter feeling  would overcome me with the thought that we had to let go of our Ganesha's for the visarjan (submersion of the idol in the water)and that the day has come to an end. 

In an effort to recreate the magic and a sense of tradition and celebration for my family, I have some inspirational decor from my home to yours. I've been scrubbing my brass Trimurti Ganesha (three faced Elephant God)with tamarind to brighten him up for the special day. I've dedicated a corner in my home, pairing the Ganesha with fresh flowers, potted plants  and a variety  of brass diya's for some traditional drama and ethnic appeal. Varying the height of all the decor elements in this setting makes it interesting leading the eye to different levels.

A brass urli forms a perfect container to float Marigolds in hues of orange and yellow.A traditional Kerala lamp (gifted by a dear friend Roopa) placed in the center of the urli makes for an interesting setting. The Marigolds are from my very own garden making them extra special. (A little note on Marigolds - these gorgeous flowers are widely used in medicine, flavoring, as a dye agent, in the perfumery industry and as an ornamental plant.)
 

This time I've added cushions in bright blues and reds adding bold and vivid colors for a colorful and heartwarming celebration. An elephant inspired bowl is ideal for holding a Ghaja Lakshmi Diya (a lamp), freshly cut spray of Crepe Myrtle and a colorful bead necklace reinforcing the color palate used for the cushions in the background.

If the diya's are big enough to support a votive holder, do use them as they are hassle free options than using oil to light lamps.

A Ganesha inspired decorative wind chime is placed randomly on the coffee table mimicking the kaleidoscope of colors that are used to spruce up the living room in true Indian style. To create this look, all you need are a few lamps, fresh flowers and an ingenious bent of mind to work with what you got. 

Wishing all my wonderful readers happiness and laughter for a memorable celebration with your loved ones.

Images:My Home.

Please do not use without prior written permission. Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.