Living rooms

Does your living room tell anything about you? Then why not add colour and drama to it....... like the ones below?

....... throw in a lot of pillows....

.....or add a dash of class to it.......

 .....keep it simple and serene.......

..... or run riot with colours.........

......keep it rustic.......

...... or bring the outdoors in......

......its your space.... go on.... run riot with your imagination. Okay.... okay.... take your time to stare.....

(All images from here)

Kehwa

My love affair with Urban Haat still continues...... and why not! Interesting place..... nature at its best, especially during rains. It always surprises me with something unusual.....and surprise it did when my eyes were staring at a board which read "Kehwa with almonds - Rs.10/-". "Kehwa..... Kehwa..... I had heard that name somewhere but could not place what it was. I wanted to know more and went in to inquire. That's when I met these two lovely ladies.... sisters actually.... Pooja and Vasudha. They told me that it is a Kashmiri beverage..... I wanted to know more. What struck me is their openness, warmth and their willingness to share. Pooja told me that she would send me a writeup on Kehwa and as promised she did send me one......

Pooja writes.......

"Kahwah (also spelled qehwa, kehwa or kahwa) is a green tea floavoured with a mix of spices and served hot with Alomnds. In India, this traditional tea is consumed in Kashmir Valley. Even though exact origins of kehwa are still unclear, most Kashmiris believe that the aromatic traditional drink kehwa dates back to times immemorial & has been a part of local consumption for ages.

Preparing this tea specially with the Kashmiri green tea is not difficult but a little tricky. First the water is boiled with sugar and a mix of spices (cinnamon bark, cardamom pods and little black pepper). Once the water starts boiling you can smell the great aroma of these spices. The water needs to boil for some more time so that the flavours are released in the water, then the green tea is added (you just have to crush tea leaves slightly between the palms). Let the green tea brew for just about half a minute and strain the tea. Served hot with crushed almonds.

There are herbal versions of Kehwa also prepared where in green tea is not used but water is boiled with saffron. Some people even add Kashmiri rose petals to enhance the flavour.

Traditionally this tea is prepared using a metal vessel called "Samovar". This vessel has two sections, upper section for spices and green tea and the lower section for ignited coals. The tea keeps brewing and served directly from this vessel. "

Ofcourse, I had to taste it......... hmmmm.... it refreshes your senses....

The glass of Kehwa with almonds..... 

.... the aroma and the taste lingers on, long after you have had it.....

I was actually overcome with excitement when she said that she had the samovar with her....... she had polished it and I must say - what a beauty!....

..........the Samovar in which the Kehva is brewed

Pooja and Vasudha informed me that the lid used to have a decorative top which is now lost. I can just imagine how beautiful it would have been, not that it is any less now..... and oh! by the way, this one is more than 100 years old.....

The samovar when open has a small chimney-like protrusion. The ignited coal is put through this small chimney and it sits at the base to keep the beverage hot.

The intricately designed base...

I must thank Pooja and Vasudha for giving me such valuable bit of information - a slice of  Kashmiri culture. And its not just the Kehva that they serve. They also make lip-smacking Kashmiri delicacies.....

For Kashmiri gourmet cuisine you can contact Pooja and Vasudha @ pooj1011@gmail.com

Madhubani - the fascinating folk art

I am back with a lot of gyaan on Madhubani paintings.... and some fascinating photographs of this art form. Well... for the uninitiated, Madhubani is an art form of Bihar (having its origins in the ancient kingdom of Mithila). I was enthralled at the sight of these paintings as soon as I stepped onto the stall in Urban Haat, Navi Mumbai.... I just couldn't have enough of them. The surge of colours forces you to linger there for more than you would want to, otherwise. The use of the myriad colours, patterns, figures.... you want to know more about this art. Each painting is a narrative.......has story to tell..... and you cannot help but wonder at the beauty of these paintings.

I had the good opportunity to meet the master artist, Uttam Prasad Paswan, who belongs to a family that has painted for generations. He tells that his late sister-in-law, Chanu Devi, was a national award winner. His wife and son too are artists.

Traditionally this art form was practiced by women who made these paintings on the walls and floors of their houses on festive occasion. In modern times it has made its transition on handmade papers and canvas. But even today the colours used by the artists are eco-friendly in that they are made of flowers, tree bark and such natural ingredients. I could not contain the exitement to know how it is made. The process is a bit tedious (well, well... so used to all the ready made colours available off the shop counter). The tree bark has to be ground and mixed with natural gum as a binding agent.

The bark of the neem tree is used to make orange and Maroon colours. The soot of the lamp is used to make black colour for drawing the outlines. More often than not, the paintings depict Lord Krishna and his leela. Many Gods and Goddesses from the Hindu pantheon also make an appearance. Harmony in nature is another favourite theme. Each painting has intricately designed borders.

Here are some beautiful ones.....

......and how about this? Lord Krishna showing his true form..... Viswaroop

or these.....

.....and these colourful adornment for the walls

Did I buy the paintings? Of course I did.... I just could not come back empty handed. Here they are....

....just waiting to be framed and adorn my walls.

You can contact the artist Uttam Prasad Paswan at Village Post - Jitwarpur, Dist.- Madhubani (Bihar),

847211.  Ph. 98750998535

Urban Haat

Come monsoon and it is mela (fair) time at CIDCO's Urban Haat, Belapur, Navi Mumbai! An array of art and craft, fabrics, furniture, jewellery, pottery and other drool worthy products are on display. Ensconced in a lovely surrounding with lot of greenery, it is hard to imagine that this place is right in the middle of  a bustling suburb. With its vast area and its topography intact, one actually comes face to face with nature and the tranquil surroundings. This time, I made it a point to carry my camera and I just cannot resist sharing these pics.

The gate, right on the main road.

an interesting way the umbrellas are used to add colour to the surroundings

Warli paintings done on the large boulders that lie alongside the path.....

and an uphill walk to the shops displaying the products...

The walk inside the Urban Haat itself is so enjoyable, you want to come back again (believe me, I do it all the time). This time I came across some handmade stuff, very Indian, very beautiful and very worth your money.

These lovelies from Rajasthan waiting for their admirers to take them home...

... cannot take my eyes off these mojris..

handmade crochet frocks from hyderabad

Madhubani paintings.... the painting below depicts Sita Swayamvar

painting depicting tree of life

A full length article on Madhubani paintings would do justice to this beautiful folk art from Bihar. The artist I met was more than willing to explain his art to me. So I am in a hurry to go, armed with my camera, and will be back more enlightened.........

Found objects

As a school going girl, I had this habit of collecting small pebbles, shells, shiny golden and silver paper that used to come in cigarette packets (empty thrown packets that me and my friends used to find outside), stamps, little boxes and other knick knacks….. and they all were put to good use. The pebbles and shells were used in the doll house, the silver and golden paper were used to decorate houses that I made from cardboard which I tore away from used notebooks, stamps were exchanged with friends …….. little boxes were a treasured possession, in which I used to keep small things like sequins, beads found while playing, marbles that looked beautiful, tiny stones that looked like diamonds and I guarded these treasures fiercely. And this habit of collecting things remained with me. Where ever I go, I am on lookout for small things that look different or that catch my fancy….. here are a few of them.

A little knife that I bought from a quaint shop at Ambaji in Gujarat

...a small pug mark ash tray from Corbett

aromatic candles from Mussoorie for Rs. 12/- each…. 

I picked up this small lantern with a wick from a vendor in the local train.

A chillum for smoking pot which I found in Lonavla at a potter’s shop

....... the wind slowly whispered in my ear again, have you found anything new lately…and when I searched, I realized I don't have to go too far….for things of joy lay just in front of my eyes….only I never knew how to look….

My first post

The rains have arrived in Mumbai, bringing with it the happiness and an equal dose of gloom. The wet potholed roads, the slush, children in colourful rain gear, getting unwillingly into the school bus and the busy streets jammed with big and small vehicles. Sitting near my window, with  a glass of garma garam morning coffee.......( my day is made only when I have this milk laden, frothy  kapi .....as all south Indians pronounce)..... Lovely breeze coming in from the window, the smell of mud.... perfect day to sit, dream, paint, sing, make or do just any crazy stuff. The view outside my window was lovely and  I just had to pull out my camera to click some pictures……and here they are. I still have to learn a lot about handling camera... but I would like to believe that I am good at photography.

The view of the service road from my window on a lovely rainy morning.....

...and the main road with vehicles whizzing past

Seriously I could not understand why little Johny wanted the rains to go away. Isn't it much more fun to play when it is raining.... getting wet, jumping in the slush and getting dirty,  returning home, sneezing... and missing school....? Wish I had never grown up.....