Quilting....my new passion

There was a time when I was interested in many arts and crafts....Then somewhere in life I lost all those interests..... But now when I tried to regain that lost passion, I feel I can...... Age is no bar to restart.....
Thus I made this quilt.....

Nganga, my name....

Oh, God!! What a strange name I have!! Nganga…..I think I was named Ganga by my parents…a name I couldn’t like in my primary school days. Whenever the name of the river Ganga was mentioned in the class room, the girls would turn to look at me with a teasing smile..
Mother’s younger brother Aniyammavan used to tease me that I was their adopted child and as my father got me from the garbage I was so dirty and father had to dip me in the river Ganga to get me cleaned. He said that is why they gave me that name. And I believed that story for a long time, and hated my name all the more….

I remember the days when Govind started his baby talks . He was the first grandson of my parents. We were all so excited and overwhelmed with many emotions when he came to our life. His each movement and facial expression was noticed and cheered by us.

I don’t remember when he uttered my name for the first time, but when it was clear that he gave me a special name, I was very much excited.. He started calling me too often in that name ‘nganga’, which I think only a Malayali can pronounce. Then came his sister, and she shortened it a bit and called me ‘ngnga’. And so my name got popular and all my nieces and nephews call me so. None of them found it necessary to call me aunty [valliamma or chitta]. Now their spouses too know me by that name….and their children…..Govind’s daughter has already started calling me nganga ammoomma….How strange!

Actually I got used to the name so much that I didn’t notice anything strange in it until now when I got a mail from Govind’s non-Indian friend addressing me ‘Nganga’. Ha ha…I wish to hear her pronounce it, if she ever could......

Hindu Festivals

Hindus observe a lot of Festivals throughout the year. For them every celebration is religious. Important events of Hindu mythology, Birth of Gods, Harvests and regional and seasonal events, full moon, new moon, new year are all celebrated religiously.

Some festivals start as temple events with processions like ratha yatra, programmes including folk arts and cultural programmes.

Some festivals are universally celebrated while some are strictly within the family. Keeping fasts and observing poojas are very important for Hindus. Decorating the house with Rangoli, Kolam, Pookkalam, known differently in each region, is an auspicious observance believed to bring good luck and prosperity and marks the arrival of the festival and welcome the deity.

Wearing new clothes on festivals is a custom among the Hindus. A wide range of delicacies, especially sweets are made in every home. Friends and relatives meet and wish each other during the festival days.

There are festivals throughout the year and they are celebrated with all pomp and glory year after year. Hindus consider everything sacred and divine. The sun, moon, and every animate and inanimate things on earth has divinity in them. In a way every day has some importance and it is connected with a divine force and the Hindus have a different name for the divinity or God.

The festivals start in January with Makar Sankranthi, Lohri and Pongal. Though there are not many festivals in June, according to Hindu calendar, every month has a festival. Maha Shivratri, Deepavali, Onam , Dussera, Ganesh Chadurthi , Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan, Vishu and Holi are some of the most important festivals.

Kerala village

The beautiful village, Meenadom

Paramada

His pets talking to him..

It's Ammai's farm..

Chitragupta Temple

According to Hindu beliefs, Chitrgupta is the one who keeps record of man’s good and bad deeds. He then decides Heaven or Hell for the humans according to their deeds on earth.

There is a temple in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, with the presiding deity Chitragupta.

The idol is seen in a sitting posture with a pen [ezhuthani] in his right hand and a palm leaf on left.

Devotees believe that worshiping here gives one a prosperous life. He shows one the right path to follow. After the worship one gets a turning point in life. The evil effect of Kethu would be mitigated.

Vibhishana of Ramayan

Valmiki Ramayana, the great epic of Hindus depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal father, ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king. One such ideal brother who tried to bring Ravana to a Dharmic life is Vibhishana.

Ravana’s brother Vibhishana was a sattwik who never strayed from the path of Dharma. When Ravana kidnapped and abducted Sita, Vibhishana requested his brother to send her back with all honor. Though born among the Rakshasas Vibhishana was noble in character. He fought for Dharma, so he left Lanka and joined Rama’s army. He revealed all secrets of Lanka to Rama which helped Rama to win the battle. He was not a traitor to his country, but fought for truth and Dharma. He showed Ravana the right thing but when he refused to obey he wanted to end the Adharma of the abduction of Sita.

After he won the war, Rama made Vibhishana the king of Lanka and he tried to turn his subjects from the path of evil to the path of good and Dharma

Raja Ravi Varma

Raja Ravi Varma's paintings were based on Hindu Mythology. He gave a face to Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The Prince Ravi Varma showed his talents at a young age. Most of his oil paintings in classic Indian style influenced many artists worldwide.
Ravi Varma's most popular and impressive paintings are that of Nala - Damayanti and Shakunthala and Dushyanta.

Goddess Saraswati



Raja Harichandra



Radha Madhavam



Sri Krishna and Yesoda



Princess Damayanthi.



Bathing Girl