Bharatanatyam – Spotlight and Artiste Feature

This Spotlight showcases Bharatanatyam - one of the oldest classical dance forms prevailing in India and celebrates the artiste who has brought home (yes – to the USA) this verdant art from, inspiring and tutoring her many students in this branch of classical dance – Sridevi Jagannath. 

Sridevi and her artistic brain child - Laasya School of Dance and Music. Photo Credits: Sripriya Murthy Photography - Facebook

Bharatanatyam is said to derive its name from Bharata Muni, the author of Natya Shastra (treatise on dance) written between 2nd century B.C and 2nd century A.D. This dance form was originally performed in temples by the "devadasis" (servants of god) and it is to them that we owe the preservation of this art form. This art form received great patronage during the golden rule of the Maratha and Chola rulers. The dance was then called "Sadir". Sadir in turn, is derived from ancient dance forms that includes some acrobatic karanas. Bharatnatyam is usually accompanied by Carnatic music and jointly embodies a winsome union of the mind, body and the soul.

Bharatanatyam dancers adorn themselves with traditional kanjeevaram dance ensembles, temple jewelry and festive "alta" on their hands and feet . Photo Credits: Sripriya Murthy Photography - Facebook

With the advent of the Mughals started the decline of temple dancing. The Mughal rulers brought dancers from Persian states. The devadasis stopped receiving patronage and many of them started learning Persian dance and took to court dancing. The British rule did away with provincial monarchies. In a desperate move to earn livelihood many dancers who now stopped receiving any kind of patronage took to becoming escorts and royal consorts. Thus Bharatanatyam, as a dance form, fell into disrepute. Girls from honorable families stopped learning this dance. Dancing came to be considered as a ignominious profession in the latter half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.

A Laasya student strikes a sculpteresque pose on traditional rangoli. Photo Credits: Sripriya Murthy Photography - Facebook

Modern sensibilities have outweighed the shadow of dishonor once attributed to this dance form. Bharatanatyam is now a reworked dance-form known for its grace, purity, tenderness, and sculpturesque poses which extol the virtues of Indian culture and mythology. Today, Bharatanatyam is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles and is practiced by male and female dancers all over the world.

Sridevi Jagannath is consecrating this classical dance form through Laasya – The School of Dance and Music (Find Laasya Nritya on Facebook). Sridevi founded Laasya a decade ago to train and mentor students in Bharatanatyam and Classical Music. Laasya is the proud alma mater to many prodigies from all over the world (my girls will go there too!) who have embraced the beauty and finesse of this form of Indian classical dance. Sridevi is a true Bangalore girl and boasts of a proud lineage of connoisseurs of music and dance. She is a wonderful friend, a great mom and a ray of sunshine in the lives of her family and friends. 

Sridevi and her Laasya students. Photo Credits: Sripriya Murthy Photography - Facebook

A teacher and a performer par excellence, Sridevi is one of the first few students of her Guru Smt. Padmini Ravi at the Pradhan Dance Center in Bangalore, India, a widely acclaimed school in the Vazhavoor style of Bharatanatyam. She began her career as a dancer at the tender age of five. Ever since, she has enthralled the hearts of many dance lovers far and beyond. Her mother Karnataka Kalashree Smt. Ranganayaki Rajan, who is an internationally acclaimed artist herself, introduced her to the world of music. She also had the privilege of getting trained under some world famous dance personalities like K.J. Sarasa, Padmabhushan Kalanidhi Narayan, and Smt. Banumathi. Before leaving India, she was an artiste for the Indian television’s prime time channel Doordarshan and performed in small screen lead roles on several occasions. 

Sridevi in her many performances. Photo Credits : Anil Mallya

Sridevi has performed for organizations such as the Florida chapter of SPICMACAY, Stevens Point, WI, Balaji Temple, Chicago, IL, the SAARC Summit, Hindu Society of North Carolina, ICMDS, NC and International Dance Alliance, Chennai, India. She has also conducted several lecture demonstrations at Lees McRae Performing Arts School, Boone, NC. 

Her recent innovative experiment "ANANYA" performed under the HUMSUB (Find HumSub Cary on Facebook) banner was very well received by the art-lovers of the Triangle area. This was an experiment where the technique of Bharatanatyam remained untouched, but the concepts portrayed were unique. She was recently invited to perform at the Oregon State University for India festival, the biggest ever in the entire northwestern region of the United States. Sridevi is also a member of Srishti - The Creation, a group of dance artists that are individually well trained in the art and have been performing at many prestigious platforms in the USA for over a decade.

Sristhi group ensemble. Photo Credits : Anil Mallya

Sridevi is known for her Tala-Gnana and precision in Nattuvangam. She has been training students for the past ten years in the Triangle area and has performed several Arangetrams of her senior students. Sridevi is a formidable force in her Bharatanatyam classes. I have been a moot observer on many occasions and I have seen this bubbly and enthusiastic friend and confidante turn into a strict and feared teacher, inspiring, nudging and shaping her students to imbibe the style and symmetry of the dance form as their own. Her many students have formed lifelong friendships with her, a bond forged out of a common love for classical dance, enriched by its rigors and fuelled by passion for creating a thing of beauty!

"Great dancers aren't great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion." 

"Guru" or Teacher pondering over the many Bharatanatyam prodigies whose futures and passions she fuelled. Photo Credits: Sripriya Murthy Photography - Facebook 

Aalayam was fortunate to be a guest at Sridevi’s family home in North Carolina. The classical contemporary design sensibilities of her colorful home, which she also uses as a workshop for teaching dance, prompted us to ask her not only an interview but also a Home Tour! And she said Yes!! So dear readers, look out for the next post in this two-post series – Sridevi’s home tour! And a rendezvous with Sridevi herself! So, I leave you dear readers with these beautiful images of joyful inspiration...and a promise for more next week!

Love,

Supriya

An Island getaway!

Arch Rock, Mackinac Island. Pic by  Uj

“Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.”
― Isabelle Eberhardt, The Nomad: The Diaries of Isabelle Eberhardt

Some of us still have a few more weeks of winter left. But many of us are already looking forward to longer days and warmer temperatures. The yearning to travel is slowly surfacing.  It's never too early to give in to your wanderlust and plan for a vacation. So, will you be traveling this year?  Where will 2013 take you? Everybody's idea of a vacation is different. From theme parks to serene beaches to mountain cabins to cruise ships (or not - given the recent carnival cruise fiasco) the options are plenty! How about an island getaway?

I want to share this travelogue from our trip to Mackinac (MAK-in-awe) Island last summer.
Located in Lake Huron and accessible by boat, Michigan's Mackinac Island is truly a great weekend Midwest getaway! There is plenty of good information available on the www for things to do and see but be rest assured that it has something for everyone in the family - culture, arts, the outdoors, history and plenty of fun!
 Since our move to Ohio, we had heard so much about Michigan's Up North - the vernacular term for the Upper Peninsula. We wanted to  discover it for ourselves.

Round Island Lighthouse and St Anne's Church, Mackinac  pic credits: Uj

We picked a sunny weekend and hit the road to discover Mackinac! And it was magical!  The gorgeous shoreline of the great lakes lined by beautifully sculpted rock cairns, horse drawn carriage rides that transport one back in time, curvy streets dotted with quaint little cottages and fresh blooms, glorious sunsets, water-front dining, Victorian architecture, run-ins with history at Fort Mackinac, bike rides down windy roads, milling tourists, fudge shops - you name it, Mackinac has it!

Fudge, food and fun!

 The island does not allow motor vehicles and is perfect to escape the daily humdrum and the mechanical chaos of modern living. We thoroughly enjoyed biking the Island and  my little one utterly loved his new found independence. In fact, biking is my most cherished memory from Mackinac. Enjoying the verdant landscape, feeling the wind in our faces and leaving our cares behind was invigorating, to say the least.

Tandem biking  along the shoreline

As the horses sauntered down the streets, transporting tourists in colorful carriages, the rhythmic sound of their hooves infused the air with a sense of tranquility. According to this website, Mackinac has the world's oldest and largest buggy livery in the world! Now, because of their no motor vehicle policy, Mackinac was included among the top 10 Sustainable islands of the world!

 The island  offers plenty of great accommodations and we chose the Iroquois for its Conde Nast approval  and were simply blown away by its charm, near perfect location and great water views! The Carriage house dining room at the Iroquois had a great array of options on their carte du jour and we were not disappointed.

The Iroquois -vacation chic!

And for those of you that like to bring back memories, the place is chock-full of picture-worthy hotspots - The Grand Hotel, Round Island Light house, Arch Rock, St Anne's church and more. Whether you are looking to relax and recharge or simply spend some quality family time- Mackinac is ideal.

Buildings and blooms offer plenty of eye candy!

With so much to offer, Makinac is must-see!

Do you like to travel and explore our beautiful world?  We do too and periodically we will feature a new destination and yet another travel experience. If you missed  Supriya's travelogue on Puerto Rico click here. While we are on the subject of travel, let me share a favorite travel photo blog - Canvas of Light by Daniel Nahabedian. If you are not familiar with his work, I urge  you to check it out. Daniel is brilliant! He is the real McCoy when it comes to travel photography and looking at the world through his lens is a mesmerizing experience!

Cheers!
Deepa

p.s: All images in this post were taken by my husband and are subject to copyright! Please email for permission to use. Thanks !

Guest post - Global design

Supriya and I  are heading over to Colours Dekor today.  Colours Dekor is a blog by Patricia with contributions by Anpu and Rose. 
Here is what Patricia wrote about the blog "Colours Dekor is my space to share beautiful home ideas from my home and magazines that inspire me. I love colours and innovative ideas. I have a passion for interior designing & dekor, travel & art. I love colours".  Patricia's blog has been around for a while now and it is a great space too  offering creative inspirations, decor tips, gorgeous eyecandy and much more!
 Of course, we would not pass up an opportunity to author for Colours Dekor! Supriya and I were invited to do a feature on our personal decor styles.  This was an easy assignment given our enthusiasm for all things design and decor!  We got to work  right away!
We figured we would offer a post with a few corners from our homes and a few lines about our design sensibilities to encapsulate our personal design diction.

So, here's a sneak peak at our guest post

"Supriya and I definitely have a lot in common with regards to design preferences  and I guess that's what drove us into a collaboration. If you are already a reader of Aalayam  then you know that we both love incorporating world-wide design elements  in our homes. Our styles can best be described by the umbrella term "Global design /universal appeal"........

My family room  - teal wall, rustic furniture and some colorful accents for a  global look!

Supriya's living room - blue wall, colorful accents, black and white frames for a universal appeal!

For more pictures (yes!) and the rest of this entry head over to Colours Dekor.
Thank you Patricia for inviting us to write for your blog.

Cheers!
Deepa

Nature in Miniature - Bonsai

A gorgeous Bonsai can add  visual drama in your living space..like it does in my living room!

Dear Aalayam Family - I am privileged to present to you Bonsai, a wonderful accent to your living space and a quintessential and sustainable way to bring the outside..in! The age old Japanese art form that so elegantly captures the grace and beauty of full-grown trees in motley containers of your choice!

The Japanese word "bonsai" (bon - 'basin', sai - 'plant') refers to a plant, tree or a group of trees or plants growing in a container. Bonsai is a living art form that can provide a lifetime of joy to botanists and aficionados and natural eye-candy to design enthusiasts all over the world.

Harmonize your end table or coffee table with a Bonsai and some of your favorite picture frames or accessories! A picture from my family room.

The first examples of penjing, the Chinese version of bonsai, and bonsai were made from trees and plants collected from the wild mountains areas within China and Japan. Indigenous, naturally stunted trees were arranged and planted in ceramic pots and containers, kept in or around collectors' homes, and regarded as natural works of art.

Bonsai art forms across the world serve to create picturesque tableau! (via Google images)

Bonsai trees and plants are often contorted into interesting shapes, structured by the bonsai artists' loving hands to mimic old, gnarled trees found in nature. From the time a bonsai is created, it's shaped to limit growth, redistribute the vigor of its foliage to areas requiring further development. 

Root reduction, pruning and  potting a Bonsai ..lovingly rendered on a Juniper by my mom!

My mother is a proud collector of over 150 Bonsais. She has one as old as me (well, almost) in her collection. As the story goes, she snipped a little ficus seedling off of a fence just after my 1st Birthday and created a Bonsai out of it. Today, that very Bonsai tree stands magnificent in my mom's terrace garden in India, making a grand appearance into my parents' living room during dinner parties. On my parents' recent visit here, I coaxed my mom to design a few Bonsais for me. The montage of pictures you see above is the photographic capture of the process of root reduction, pruning and potting of my very first Bonsai!

My Green Sargent Juniper suns itself on my backyard bench!

A bonsai is created beginning with a specimen of source material. This may be a cutting, seedling, or small tree of a species suitable for bonsai development. Bonsai can be created from nearly any perennial woody-stemmed tree or shrub species that produces true branches and can be cultivated to remain small through pot confinement with crown and root pruning. Some species are popular as bonsai material because they have characteristics, such as small leaves or needles, that make them appropriate for the compact visual scope of bonsai. 

Pruning the tap-root of the Bonsai, before potting

The practice of Bonsai development incorporates techniques like leaf trimming, pruning the trunk, branches, and roots of the candidate tree, wiring branches and trunks to allow the bonsai designer to create the desired general form, clamping using mechanical devices for shaping trunks and branches, grafting new growing material (typically a bud, branch, or root) into a prepared area on the trunk or under the bark of the tree, defoliation, which can provide short-term dwarfing of foliage for certain deciduous species and Deadwood bonsai techniques called jin and shari that simulate age and maturity in a Bonsai.

Create a feeling of zen in your room with Bonsai!

Bonsai aesthetics generally adhere to Japanese cultural characteristics, in particular the influence of Zen Buddhism and the expression of Wabi-sabi (acceptance of transience and imperfection). Some of the aesthetic mantras to follow while designing a Bonsai are: Miniaturization: where a bonsai is kept small enough to be container-grown while otherwise fostered to have a mature appearance, Proportion among elements: where the proportions mimic those of a full-grown tree as closely as possible, Asymmetry: where strict radial or bilateral symmetry in branch and root placement is discouraged and Poignancy: where the grower creates a tree that expresses Wabi-sabi.

Isn't this fascinating? If you are more interested in this ancient art form that has given joy to generations of nature lovers, let me recommend this great read: 

The Complete Practical Encyclopedia of Bonsai: The essential step-by-step guide to creating, growing, and displaying Bonsai with over 800 breath taking photographs.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Practical-Encyclopedia-Bonsai-step/dp/0754821803 

If you are a beginner, and would like to enjoy the zen of Bonsai without crafting one, why not buy one for your living space. Beautiful Bonsais are available for sale in local nurseries, and neighborhood super stores all over the country. What better way to get the outdoors into your home than with a beautiful Bonsai? I hope this feature post has brought out the nature lover in you. I for one, sure enjoyed sharing my new found passion with you, my dear Aalayam family! I leave you with another picture from my home. A cozy window seat, a Bonsai, a book and some herbal tea...how much more zen can it get?

Love,

Supriya 

Bonsai - Bring the outside in!

Home Tour - Eclectic Splendor!

Remember our first home tour where we took you through the stunning Zen Den of Roopa and Abhi?
Well, today we will take you on another charming home expedition!

Hand painted candle holder stands tall in front of an art wall

Join me as we tour the Dallas home of my dear friends Kiran and Divya. I love their home.  I have had the privilege of enjoying their hospitality and can you tell first hand that their home - a visual stunner, is painstakingly put together! And if you have a little girl, then definitely stay tuned - you will fall in love with the whimsical flair of their daughter's room!

Their home is a loving example of  how one can mix many eclectic elements and still create a warm and welcoming tapestry.

Different shapes, colors, textures and patterns all come together in this vignette!

Here is what Divya wrote as she sent me the pictures of her home… "Kiran and I like our space to be both functional and inspirational. We strongly believe that picking the right decorative items can brighten up your living space and your life. With busy schedules, like most working couples, decorating together is an activity we bond over in addition to family time with our little daughter."

From the ethnic Ravi Varma print  on the fireplace to the multicolored candle stand on the dining table to the brightly colored embroidered pillows on the sofa, this home has several tiers of color, texture and pattern all coming together to create a seamless visual palette. Divya and Kiran find as much joy in the process of ornamenting as they do in the end-product - an aesthetically appealing abode!


Referring to her accessories, Divya writes,  "Most of the items we buy are simple, inexpensive pieces that we love. Sometimes, we envision a look and scout for pieces that will fit in. The inspiration for  the decorative dark toned wood frames with the intricate scroll design in our living room came from a high end store.  When we eventually found similar frames hidden behind a mirror at the local Home Goods, without the high end price tag,  we were ecstatic! We knew it would fit right in with our vision! We painted the orange boxes to offset the dark wood and to add some color."

Easy ways to add some drama

What a clever and simple way to add some drama to an otherwise plain wall! The wall anchors the sofa and the fabric pillows nicely and the whole orchestration makes a great decor statement in their family room.

If there is one thing I have learnt about decorating over the years - it is patience! It takes a lot of patience and perseverance to create a home of your dreams. Divya agrees and adds, "We spend more time planning and positioning things, than we do buying. The mantel décor was envisaged around some of our cherished pieces. The Ravi Varma Print, the serene Buddha we had picked up from a zen store in Vegas and the ethnic brass hairpins from India were all collected over the years. Instead of sprinkling them around the house we decided to order them in a vignette above the mantel. We loved the end result!" I did too!

The fireplace vignette- group 'em together!

Home decorating is all about creating a beautiful and enjoyable space that tells a story about who you are. Divya and Kiran's mantel vignette does just that. It speaks to their patience, perseverance and sense of style!  

Next up, one of their guest rooms that doubles as a study.

Colors work!

In her role as mom, IT professional and Master's student Divya's day is definitely busy! At the end of a packed working day, attending to her daughter and her graduate course-work is no easy task and she needs all the inspiration and motivation  to keep her going. She writes , "We kept the colors in this room bright -greens , yellows and blues so I'm inspired to use the room more!" Don't you  love this work-space? This room has plenty of natural light streaming in - great for a work area. 
My favorite feature has to be the galvanized tin buckets that serve as pen holders!  

It's all in the details

What a clever way to  free up some acreage on the table and move things to the wall!  She is also very  hands-on when it comes to home decor and  in her own words, she writes .. "Lately I’ve found it very relaxing and rewarding to take up some DIY projects. Some of them adorn the walls of my study. A framed magnetic inspiration board and a framed fabric board to hold reminders and pictures. They are both functional and decorative!"
DIY projects are a fun way to add a personal stamp to your home! It is also a great way to cut some decorating cents!

The other guest room is done up in yet another fresh color giving the room an airy feel. She writes, "The peach room is the smallest room in the house - we tried to keep the colors light again and used a metal headboard to avoid overwhelming the room with a solid wood headboard.  It is a small yet functional space.The bed lamps were bargain finds at an auction and the bedding was procured at Christmas sales" Smart, don't you think? 

Smal space, big style

A perfect example of a mixed configuration of accessories working wonderfully to create a vibrant home! 

And, I saved the best for the last. Their adorable daughter's beautiful room! The lilac paint and all the little details sets this room apart from any other generic room - truly, a little girl's delight!  Whimsical is what comes to mind when I think of this room.

Lilac dream

  Divya writes , "Aanya’s room has been decorated in a whimsical butterfly theme. Some of the décor I used for her birthday party has been repurposed as wall art or table decor - the paper lanterns and the bird cages.  Her first pair of shoes are lovingly displayed at the entrance"  Wow! This room is truly a labor of love.

A labor of love

So, that dear readers was Aalayam's second home tour. This home exudes eclectic elegance and is perfect for this young family! Hope you are inspired by Divya and Kiran's design philosophy - of mixing elements, being patient, working with a budget and telling a story ? I am!

Many thanks to my friends and homeowners for sharing their beautiful home with all of us.
Leave us a comment and we will share them with the homeowners.

Cheers!
Deepa

p.s: All images are copyrighted by the homeowners. Please ask before use.

My Favorite Andhra Delicacies!

Andhra Pradesh, India's fourth largest state, is located in the south eastern coast of India and is the leading producer of red chilies and rice. Not surprising that Andhra cuisine is heavily influenced by these ingredients. Crushed Red Pepper forms a staple cash-crop of Andhra Pradesh, grown in the lush green fields and sprawling acres, exported all over the world to add a hot and spicy taste that is a wonderful accent to stir fries, pizzas and pasta dishes.

Red Chilies and Rice are the staple exports of Andhra Pradesh. Photography credits "Sripriya Murthy Photography - Facebook"

Notice the artistic curvature of the design below? The symmetry and the sanguine melody of the script? Wondering if this is part of the new-age symbolism representing an abstract concept? Well, it's not. This is the beautiful script, the written "lipi" of the Telugu language - the official language of  Andhra Pradesh. 

Andhra cuisine is known for its tangy, spicy and flavorful medley of coriander, chilli, fenugreek, cumin, tamarind, jaggery and sesame. The cuisine varieties change because of the diverse topology of native Andhra Pradhesh, ranging from Hyderabadi Nawabi Biryanis, Uttarandhra or Kalinga region coastal delicacies to Rayalaseema or Telangana meat and jowar specialties. 

I grew up in a Andhra vegetarian household where pappu (dal/lentil based soup) and kurralu (curries), spiced pickles like avakai, maagai, gongura and dosavakai, pachadi (chutney/raita like saucy condiments) and podi (lentil based powdered condiment) served with a large scoop of biyam (plain white rice) were the norm at mealtimes. 

Tomato Pappu and Mixed Vegetable Pulusu - Photography credits "Sripriya Murthy Photography - Facebook"

The order of a meal is to start with modati mudda (first bite) with an appetizer of an ooragaya (spiced pickle) followed by a pappu, which is prepared with "soft" vegetables like tomato, gourds, raw mango or cucumber squash,  eaten plain, or with a pickle accompanying it. Lentil forms the main source of protein for vegetarians and my twin daughters swear by "Pappanna" or rice and lentil pappu to make a satisfying meal.  This is followed by a couple of kuras (curry/main dishes) and pulusu (stew) or sambar (thick or runny (based on your preference) lentil and vegetable soup with heavy tamarind and jaggery flavors) which add flourish to a proper sit-down Andhra meal.

Featured below are two of my favorite kuras - Gutthivankai Kura (Stuffed Eggplant Curry) and Kakarakai Kura (Stuffed Bitter Gourd Curry). Ah! The culinary journeys our families (my maternal, paternal and my married ones) have been through to enjoy these kuras!  

Gutthivankai Kura or Stuffed Eggplant Curry - Photography credits "Sripriya Murthy Photography - Facebook"

Small amounts of Neyi ghee add a hyperbolic grounding to steaming rice accompanying these pappus and kuras. 

Kakarkai Kura  or Stuffed Bitter Gourd Curry- Photography credits: Vijay Jagannath

In case you were wondering about the chef whose signature dishes the ones featured are - its my Dad! I am still living in the finger-licking reminiscence of my parents' recent visit to our home...

Mirchi Bajji or Chilli Fritters topped with Ginger Chutney

Mirchi Bajji is another Andhra dish to write home about. I remember our Tirupati visits being peppered by Mirchi Bajji stops. Bajjis made out of onions, gourds (especially beerakai) and Anaheim peppers punctuate the palette of Andhra cuisine with tangy, crispy, melty deliciousness. 

Perugu (yogurt) or Majjiga (buttermilk) for the final course where Perugu (yogurt) is added to rice and consumed as a satisfying palette cleanser. 

Peruganna with Avakai - Yogurt Rice with Pickle

This is making me hungry for my own weekend special feast - an elaborate Andhra meal, an ode to my childhood, an excuse to call my Dad and Mom to discuss recipes and share pictures of gorgeous looking comfort food. But, before I go! The final rendition of the traditional vegetarian Andhra meal - paan (Areca nut on Betel Leaf). A colorful (don't worry, the stains fade in about an hour!), breath freshening digestive curtain call to a splendid gastronomic show!

Betel and Arecanut "Paan" arrangement - Photography credits: Vijay Jagannath

I hope this feature post has given you as much joy as the well-loved dishes it features have to me, my friends, cousins, husband and kids over the years! 

In case you are interested in the generational recipes for these favorite dishes, please write to me at aalayaminspiration@gmail.com.

I promise, I will consult with my Dad before I make the recipe official!! And, here's a song for all the Telugu cuisine and movie fans from the movie "Mithunam". This song describes the apt and foodie way to enjoy the various Andhra delicacies!! Enjoy!!

Love,

Supriya

Aalayam celebrates Sankranthi!

Sankranthi - The first Hindu festival of the year!

After the festive jubilation of the holiday season and all the giddy excitement dies down, the New Year always begins with a lull and a sense of abeyance that lingers until Sankranthi rolls around. And then, the calm begins to dissipate and the New Year is slowly set into motion, or at least that’s how I perceive things to be.

As with every other Indian festival, Sankranthi has deep-rooted astrological, religious and cultural significance and many regional variations that provide a fascinating look at our heritage. Despite the myriad geographical adaptations, the spirit behind the celebrations is the same – spreading good-will and harmony. I am sure we all have our own festive nostalgia tied to our unique celebrations and exclusive family customs.

 Today, let us recollect some of those gleeful childhood memories associated with Sankranthi.

In my native state of Karnataka, cultural symbolism is centered around “Ellu –beero shastra” or the “practice of distributing a mixture of sesame and jaggery” as a mark of good will. I am remniscent of friends coming over with colorful trays loaded with Sankranthi treats, particularly a piece of sugar cane, a sugary treat moulded into a fun shape (sakkare acchu) and the sesame/jaggery mixture(in a fancy container!). Waiting with eager anticipation for the goody bag seems to be my fondest Sankranthi memory!

For those of you who are not familiar with the sugar syrup treats, here is a great post at justhomemade complete with a photo essay on Sakkare acchu (moulded sugar treats)! 

Image via

 I did try my hand at making the traditional Ellu-bella (sesame–jaggery) mixture two years ago and was rather pleased with how simple it really was to create Ellu which carried Bazaar authenticity! A little victory in itself!  I even found small sugar cane stems at the local store that my guests took home along with little packets of Ellu-bella mixture for a complete ritualistic celebration of Sankranthi that year. 

Sankranthi Ellu (sesame mixture)!

 Whether I make Ellu or not, I almost always make Pongal and that is my simplified way of marking the harvest festival. 

Decorating is a big part of celebrating any festival for me even though it is not a cultural or a religious mandate. I do it anyway! It helps me get in to the spirit of things. This year, I made a rangoli with various daals (pulses) - after all, the festival ascribes to a bountiful harvest and I wanted to assimilate that in my own depiction. 

Harvest pot rangoli made with pulses - fun and easy!

Sankranthi, also marks the cosmic passage of the Sun and I decided to include a brass Sun – a tiny symbol of divinity, into my festive décor! Again, the idea is to use objects around the house and creatively generate a festive decorscape!

Deepada Malli (lamp bearers) paired with a brass Sun for a festive rendering!

In the Indian context, this festival marks the end of the cold winter months and heralds the onset of the harvest season. It is still very cold in my neck of the woods and the days are still very short and in no way, will Makar Sankranthi change this anytime soon here in North America  - I do believe, however, that it is never irrelevant to pay tribute to Mother Nature and spread some good cheer and teach my little one something about our culture. As I grow older, I have a deeper understanding of who I am. I make an earnest effort to preserve some of what is known to us and pass it along to my little one and it is in this spirit that I celebrate Sankranthi!  

How about yourself? Do you celebrate Sankranthi  or Lohri or Bihu or Pongal or Maghi ? If so, we wish you much Joy and Happiness and would love to hear about your unique traditions and observances. Write to us at aalayaminspiration@gmail.com

 

Cheers!

Deepa

p.s: Thank you Radhika of justhomemade for letting me use your lovely sakkare acchu picture as well as allowing me to link to your post.  Justhomemade is a great read!

The other images for this post were taken at our home by my patient husband!