Life & Death & Thanatology
The first trip to Banaras in 2016 had a spiritual purpose: to immerse the ashes of my grandma in the Gangaji. Death brought me to Banaras the first time. And … 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
Welcoming Laxmi & Vishnu
Just look at the great detail in their textiles and ornaments! The goddess’s skirt – Sampot? And the male costume: And all the ornaments! In one of my … Continue reading
Hybrid Art – 3 -Manuscript Paintings
A few weeks ago the surprise of hybrid paintings had already stung me when I saw a Hindu manuscript with illuminated paintings scripted in Gurmukhi. (Link to Gallery Store) My … Continue reading
Krishna Janmashtami
Celebrating the birth of Krishna in the small village of Brittona in Goa with a dahi handi! The earthenware pot filled with dahi and home made butter is suspended between … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Ramayan in the Chamba Valley
Amazing 18th century Chamba Rumaal with scenes from the Ramayan https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/72821 Sita’s Fire Test Killing Ravan – A rare depiction with the severed heads and arms Am completed WOWed … Continue reading
Painted Map of Benaras – Indian Art
A pilgrim’s map of Benaras with the Kashi Vishwanath temple at the centre. Seen in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London Feb 2018 jaina mishra| wovensouls View more Exquisite Antique … Continue reading
Shigmo Utsav Festival 2017 Goa
Connected to our roots through the amazing Shigmo folk festival parade in Panaji. Proud of all the regular people participating so wholeheartedly in this parade Proud of the absence of … Continue reading
The City of Benaras
“Yeh Benaras Hai” Literally it means “This is Banaras” but the tone included pride and an assurance – a way of saying “Don’t worry – it’s okay – this is … Continue reading
Palace on the Ganga – Art in Architecture
Just pictures of a lovely place that has the atmosphere of serenity and quietude. The opulence is in the atmosphere created – rather than in its fixtures. … Continue reading
The Holy River Ganga
A few sunrise photos captured on the phone camera of the important Ganga whose significance to Hindus is as deep as its waters. This may seem obvious – but … Continue reading
Benaras Ganga Diaries
An unplanned visit to the Ganga came my way. For spiritual reasons. For filial piety reasons. For ceremonies that complete the cycle of life & death. Measured in the number … Continue reading
Art in service of Culture – A Sindoor Box
As I say in my lectures – traditional art in Asia is rarely ever “art for art’s sake” and almost always has a second layer hidden beneath. It is either … Continue reading
Textiles in Ancient Balinese Paintings
Life is full of choices and the worst challenges are choosing between two bad choices or between two good choices. Shall I buy a painting or a textile? Shall I … Continue reading
Side Effects of Religion
With the world slowly going crazy and the use of religion as a platform to justify it all, it is natural that there are discussions everywhere on this provocative subject. … Continue reading
What’s in a Name!
I did not realise the complexity of our naming system until I came across the extremely simple – and therefore confusing – naming system used for naming children in Bali, … Continue reading
Another Vaishnav Textile!
Here is a magnificent fragment from Nepal with scenes from the Ramayan. From the Met Museum collection http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/37631 . Nov 2015
A Journey to Assam along a ‘Vrindavani Vastra’
It is said that if you cross the Brahmaputra river once, you will return again to cross it a total of seven times. I’ve done 3 and as I try … Continue reading
A Temple Lies Locked
Many temples are run by trusts. Trusts that are made up of people. Sometimes people disagree. And fight. And over time, with the addition of ego and the passage of … Continue reading
The Narakasura Festival, Goa
[A post from 2010 on the occasion of Diwali & Narakasur] Goa. Narakasur. Pre-Diwali. A unique folk festival that I noticed for the first time in 2004 then became more … Continue reading
Inside Tamdi Surla Temple – a Monument that escaped Plunder
I played Chor-Police or Police & Thieves for hours every day during my school holidays in my childhood. One team hides and the other team seeks. Too often, as a … Continue reading
