Identity – The Red Cloth
In about half of India, this red cloth stands for a very specific interest. If you like this it a MUST-have and fans will go even 20 kilometers in super-dense … Continue reading
How Many Kilograms is your Head Jewelry?
Hers weighs about 13 kilograms. Yours? Enjoy more photos taken in 2011 in this small gallery of costumes of some groups of Ladakhis. *** jm Dec 24th 2020
Meet the Weavers / Northern Thailand
Meet the Weavers from Northern Thailand Hilltribes. See more here : https://wovensouls.com/products/portraits-long-neck-karen-tribe-northern-thailand ** jm wovensouls.com
Mahashivrati at The Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Devout Hindus say that going to the Kashi Vishwanath temple happens when you are called. They say that it is one of the holiest places a Hindu could visit as … Continue reading
Rang Bhari Ekadashi & Holi at Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Banaras
Ready to throw Abeer on the Shiva-Parvati Gauna Procession just as they enter the temple. Happy Holi ….. Shots of Rangbhari Ekadashi – the Gauna of … Continue reading
The Musician
Indian Classical Music has a special style called the Banaras Gharana that originated in this magical place. And most students in the city learn Hindustani classical music in some form … Continue reading
Live and Learn – Kite Flying
A chance question to some of the staff at the hotel – led to this plan. We saw some kites in the skies and I asked whether the boys knew … Continue reading
Ganga Arti – Banaras Diaries
The consciousness in Banaras is focussed on two events – Sunrise – when it is time to do the Sunrise Arti, and Sunset – when it is time to do … Continue reading
A Silk Route Trader Speaks
We hear about the Silk Road all the time. As I had erroneously thought earlier, there was no single source and destination. There were many sources, hubs and several destinations … Continue reading
A Wedding ‘Muklawa’ Scene in a Textile
The term ‘Big Fat Indian Wedding’ has been coined in the recent times. But it has existed for decades. Even in families with limited means, a wedding supercedes all other … Continue reading
Hybrid Art 8 – Gurmukhi Script in a Hindu Prayer Book
I am not a formal student of Indian Miniature paintings but have seen a few here and there and can now identify the Kashmir style of art. These paintings are … Continue reading
Hybrid Art 6 – Swat Pillow Case
A hybrid textile that memetically straddles two worlds … The motif is from Caucasus region and often seen in wool rugs while the execution in this piece from the Swat … Continue reading
Hybrid Art – 5 – Himalayan Ornament
Here is a hybrid from the Himalayas. A Taweez is worn to ward off the evil eye and is a concept that finds favor in Islamic communities. But in this … Continue reading
Hybrid Art – 4 – Phulkari Shawl
667 Amazing Sar Pallu on a navy blue Nilak base cloth. The impact of the gold & magenta against the deep blue base is amazing! But the remarkable aspect of this … Continue reading
External Article: Victorian Paper Cutters
An interesting note on Victorian paper cutters. One of these made me gasp – there seems to be no limit to human imagination seeing the odd things people used to … Continue reading
Ceremonial Tibetan Dance at Dring Ri
A small video clip of a ritual dance at Dring Ri near Shigatse in Tibet. Note the headdress of the women: A similar old headdress with coral, turquoise unusual … Continue reading
What is this Figurative Weft Ikat?
Any idea? Nearly 5 metres long this textile has motifs of boats, people, animals and unrecognisable creatures. Acquired from a late Canadian collector who acquired it from the Indonesian archipelago … Continue reading
Astitva Project Report – Aug 2019
A little success. A little failure. Success because most of the participants achieved their goals. But what hurt was the fact that a small group did not achieve them completely. … Continue reading
Chai
Chai Am talking of the good Indian boiled Chai – with the milk & sugar and water & tea leaves all boiled together for a long time. [Not to be … Continue reading
Spinning Yarn
Seen in the Himalayas….an activity, a skill, a lifestyle …. People STILL live in this charming way! All through our afternoon conversation in which our minds and voices engaged, their … Continue reading
A Himalayan Monk’s Mask for Royal Rituals
The masked dances of Himalayan Buddhist monks are fascinating and since 2011, I’ve watched them on four different occasions in various monasteries (Kalimpong, Matho, Stok, Jokhang-Leh ). The Chamms … Continue reading
