Festival Time – Mumbai Style
This week it’s Janmashtami that the city celebrates – the birth of Lord Krishna. Baby Krishna loved home-made butter and he’d help himself to all the butter pots in the … Continue reading
Rangoli – Featuring my Aunts
Here’s a link to lovely film on Rangoli – the folk art of powder painting that was practiced across the length & breadth of India by all housewives. ALL. Video … Continue reading
Memories of Nagaland
The wealth of one’s life is the memories we collect – for only these can travel with us everywhere and be summoned at a moment’s notice to light up our … Continue reading
Tears in Heaven
We never love quite as much as at the time of saying goodbye…. I loved this piece – I loved the artist who lived a hundred years ago – I … Continue reading
Textile Study Tour of Punjab
Preface on the minor notes about the textile study tour, Punjab, 2019
Conversations – The Soul of Punjab
A few photos of the grand old women and men who were young at the time of the “hallaa” … the Partition.
Over deep conversations about phulkaris, over chai & pakodas followed by parathas & butter, we bonded – discussing the culture of their youth, of their childhood homes and the culture of the time.
A Phulkari Fan from the Olden Days
Here’s another cultural remnant of the olden days in Punjab – A ceiling fan decorated with Phulkari work: The rope is used to swing the fan and is held by … Continue reading
A Charkha Spinning Wheel
Sighting of a decorated Charkha Spinning Wheel – used in a vanishing craft
Wearing her mother’s Bridal Haalvan Phulkari
A “haalvan” phulkari is done on very fine cotton cloth that is similar to mul mul. This is the first time I held one in my hand! All bridal textiles … Continue reading
Service or Sacrilege? The Dilemma of Textile Art Fragments
Have you seen these? Amazing creativity isn’t it?!! ❤️ The ones that I have are in good but not in perfect condition – usage, withering natural life of the fibre … 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
Raincoats of the Fortunate – Bhutan Textiles
Destinies differ between individuals. And between people groups. In the plate of destiny granted to me, raincoats were made of plastic. In the plate of the fortunate, raincoats were works … Continue reading
A Man and His Dowry
In many parts of North Africa, at the time of the proposal the families discuss the dowry the man is willing to pay to get his bride. The dowry is … Continue reading
The Astitva Project – Phase III
Just as life happens just one step at a time, it seems to me that in the same way wisdom reveals itself one step at a time. It would … Continue reading
Before the Blue Jeans came along…
My world seemed mighty impressed with the concept of ‘blue jeans’ when they came along in the 1970s. Everyone had to have a pair. But before that, much much before … Continue reading
Artwork of the Day
Amazing Ethnic Art worn by a very small minority group in Guizhou China. Asset 228 on WOVENSOULS.COM Enjoy the Visual Feast!
Wealth of Ladakh
Photos of photo prints of women wearing traditional jewelry at festivals. The magnificentv Petak headdress has been discussed earlier. But the others have not received enough attention! Here are sone … Continue reading
Nomadic Weavings of Chanthang
Seen in the Himalayas in the Chanthang desert in Eastern Ladakh. Their living spaces Let’s gp in … To see their home & their weavings (videa to follow later) Volunteers: … Continue reading
Ancient Cave Paintings in Sasphol
13th Century Sasphol Caves, Ladakh Went up a mountain to see the magnificent Buddhist cave paintings. Worth every huff and puff. The big achievement was the small journey out of … Continue reading
A Visit to Phyang Monastery
Sat still within the ancient halls with only a young monk in attendance. Time passed unmarked by minutes and seconds. What do these matter when the walls have seen centuries! … Continue reading
How did Elibelinde travel to the Swat Valley?
One more example of migration of cultural memes that might hold a clue to historical events
