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On this joyous Diwali,
Wishing you and all your loved ones God’s amazing grace. Coz, with it comes Happy Diwali! |
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Diwali: Madurai Meenakshi Temple
November 4, 2010 By 21 Comments
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Video: Weaving Jaaii Flowers
February 28, 2010 By 27 Comments
During recent travels, I was visiting relatives in Honavar, Karnataka – a sleepy coastal town south of Kumta (see google map below). I had stopped by a family store to add money to my pre-paid cell phone. There, this older gentleman was weaving these delicate pink buds called jaaii-che kaLo. These buds only sprout after the monsoon rains (June – August), have a delicate fragrance and are highly sought after during the festival season in July-September. It was a simple, yet mesmerizingly beautiful weave and he agreed to let me record it on my flip video.
Based on a series of questions I ask him (on camera, in Konkani), he shows us a portion of the woven braid. All those buds will yield about 10 feet of braid and take him an hour to weave. Notice the thread, it is actually a fiber pulled from the bark of the banana tree and kept soaked in water. Very eco-friendly.
These braids will be sold in the marketplace (see Kumta marketplace) and usually end up in temples or family shrines. Women also use to decorate (and perfume) their hair. The market rate for these braids is about Rs50-Rs100/ft ($1-$2/ft), but can be significantly higher during the festival season. The beauty of the braids is in the buds; and once they bloom, the braids are considered done.
move your mouse out of the video frame, to lose the black border.
THIS is a Saree
May 9, 2008 By 17 Comments
A bit dated, but saw this recently on a forward.
Chennai Silks, India has woven the world’s costliest silk saree worth Rs. 40 lakhs (96,000 USD). The weavers incorporated gold thread as well as precious stones into the saree. Not only will it lighten the wallet, wearing the 8 kg saree (17.6 lbs) may cause the wearer to lose weight.
The exceptionally stunning sari is woven with 12 precious stones including diamonds, ruby, emeralds, yellow sapphire, topaz, pearls and corals. Gold, platinum and silver threads are used in the weave and together with the gems depict 11 of Raja Ravi Varma’s popular paintings. Woven on the “pallu” is ‘Lady Musicians’, one of Ravi Varma’s famous works paying tribute to women of diverse cultural backgrounds. It took 30 weavers, seven months to make the saree.
This Reuters video has more images and details of the saree (Reuters)
I am thankful that during M’s saree shopping binge in Chennai, we did not come across this saree!
Ten Tips to Survive Saree Shopping
January 12, 2008 By 48 Comments
Yes, Guys! That day will surely come. You will have to accompany the wife or significant other for saree shopping! How you respond to the not-so-subtle hint is going to mark you for ever.
In the good old days of the joint (or extended) family, you were safe. She may go saree shopping with her MIL, SILs, or other relatives. And you could just give the money safely curl up with a book. With modern nuclear families – no such luck! You will have to do the accompanying.
On our trip to Chennai last month, M and my mother both planned saree shopping. They conspired on the research and identified the store. Believe it or not, they planned it for the same day we arrived in Chennai. I softly recommended shopping at the end of the trip. My argument: “you won’t have to carry the sarees around for the entire trip” did not go far. “We’ll just put the sarees in the car, which will be with us the entire trip,” was the quick rebuttal.
I resigned and with a big smile, went along. I survived, and you will too!
Here are Ten Survival Tips!
And pics from our shopping extravaganza at Nalli’s (Nalli Chinnasami Chetty), Chennai. Apparently THE place for sarees! Don’t fret, all cabbies know the place! 
- When your hear the first hint of going saree shopping, be enthusiastic and jump to it!
Elephants and wives have great memories in this regard. She will remember if you try to dodge your way out. Eventually she will get her way, so might as well go along and get it over with. - Plan! Plan! Plan! Who? What? How much?
Talk to her and identify who the sarees are for. What event are they for? What general color (s)? This may all change once you get to the store, but get her to start thinking. It will save a lot of time and indecision later.In Nalli’s for eg. they have four (or five) levels of sales areas with different pricing and styles. They must have about 25 sales folks on each floor. As soon as we approach a counter, the salesman would bring out and unfurl 20 – 40 sarees in a matter of seconds. Completely overwhelming! Even her head will be spinning. My mother’s vast experience in saree shopping was apparent. She quickly honed in on a style and selected her picks within an hour. Poor M was still darting from counter to counter, and floor to floor, in a daze!
Of Diamonds, Mehndi and the Girls Who Deserve it All
July 30, 2004 By 7 Comments
As I daydream of the foods to gorge on in Mumbai, M interjects my reverie – she needs a small diamond cluster earring. But you already have a beautiful pair, I remind, as if any woman can actually forget the glittering rocks they have. Those are too big; for work everyday I prefer something smaller. I wish she was a food gourmet, it’s less expensive.
And so, we’ll put together our list of things to get in India. Jewelry, salwar khameez and other dresses for her. Eating out, books and music for me.
One thing is certain, a day before we return, one of my cousin sisters will organize a mehndi session. They usually ask a talented lady to come home, and after dinner all my cousin sisters, sister-in-laws, nieces and whoever, get their hands decorated. Whenever I poke my head in, its a treat to see all the girls treat themselves in such a collective manner, joking with each other, giggling and sharing in the camaraderie. As one gets her left hand decorated, with her right hand she designs anothers. And so a whole chain of young women, little girls at heart, helping each other amidst a squealing cacophony. With both their hands covered with mehndi, they also relax knowing they wouldn’t be called to bring water, or make chai, or other silly things for the menfolk. I only wish such joys visit them always, and for the rest of their lives. For they who make our lives worth living, what are a few diamonds!
Marathoner, Professor, Author, Citizen Journalist, Fitness Nut, Foodie, Meera's father, Hindu, Scientist, Photographer.
