Agriculture plays an important role in the economic growth of a country. Farmers are the backbone of a society. Today is
” National Farmers’ Day” also called the
” Kisan Diwas”.
The farmer has a major role in the economic development of any country. I wanted to include something related to the farmer in my kolam today
Day 8: National Farmers’ Day/ Rashtriya Kisan Divas
For the economy of any country to boom agriculture plays a key role. A good harvest
Is like a garden
Today is Sankata Hara Chaturthi ( Sankashti) , an important day associated with Ganesha also called the ” Vignahartha” who is the demolisher of obstacles.
Today also happens to be ” Kuchela Avil Dinam” . I learnt this information today and then Google Maharaj gave me further information.
It is on this day that Kuchela (also known as Sudama) brought Avil (beaten rice/ poha) to offer to his childhood friend Krishna. Pleased with him , Lord Krishna blessed him with riches. I tried to show the ” Hand of God” who is ever ready to help his ardent devotees .
Day 7: Today is Sankata Hara Chaturthi & also Kuchela Avil Dinam. ( Sudama)
Vignahartha along with a Sikku kolam corner border at the top on Sankashti has been depicted
Drawing limbs to perfection is tough and I could not do justice to it. so I used the help of colour to show Shyam helping Kuchela by pulling him out of his difficulties when Kuchela offered him Avil ( poha).
I decided to go with a simpler Sikku kolam today depicting Andal a Tamil poet and Bhakti saint, like Meera of the north. I also came across an article that drew a parallel between Andal and Sita.
Sita was born from the womb of the Earth and was found as an infant by her father. Finally she asks Mother Earth to take her back and disappears into Bhumidevi. Andal too was found as an infant by her father and is said to have disappeared in the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam. When she reached the doors of the sanctum sanctorum she merged into Lord Vishnu whom she loved as much as Meera loved Lord Krishna
During this Tamil month of Margazhyi the songs composed by Andal are sung .
Day 6: A Sikku kolam depicting hanging lamps , Andal adorned with a garland around her and a border at the bottom
Today is Thiruvadhirai or Arudhra Darshanam
In TamilNadu this day celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, which is represented by the Nataraja form . People take the blessings of Lord Shiva as Arudhra is also the birth star of Lord Shiva .
Day 5: Thiruvadhirai Special for Lord Shiva
Shiva as “Natraja ” is the Lord of dance &
as “Adiyogi ” is the Lord of Yoga
Both the art forms of yoga & dance need good footwork and balance for graceful postures. The yoga pose by name “Natrajasan ” & an important ornament for any dancer the ” ghungroo” are part of my artwork today.
Sikku kolams are the interlaced curvy line like kolams
These wire like curves needed lots of concentration on my part today but I thoroughly enjoyed drawing it .
Slowly , as the powder flowed through my fingers to fall on the mat & as I was getting a hang of the pattern a beautiful rhythm seemed to have set between me, my mat & the powder.
To be honest , I did feel pleased as a punch with the final outcome too .
Day 4: Flowers and leaves are essential elements of religious ceremonies and worship rituals as they adorn the deity. I decided to adorn my Sikku kolam with flowers at the four corners .
Day 3: A simple round floral kolam
A Padi kolam is drawn on all special occasions & on days like a friday too. Padi is a “step” in Tamil, so roughly it means a “step kolam”.
Basic padi kolams are drawn using four parallel lines which cross over at right angles & can be extended in straight or curvy lines & one can keep building it up . The centre is not left blank so a dot , a cross etc could be made in the centre.
More on padi kolams later .
Day 2: “A Padi kolam ” for a friday .
The basic square is further extended to depict the peacocks to enhance the look of the art pattern
Welcoming Vignahartha- the remover of obstacles .
I came across this lovely picture of Welcoming Gauri Ganesha. Gauri is Ganesha’ s mother as per Indian mythology and it is believed that one day before Ganesha Chaturthi festival Gauri and Ganesha arrive .
We hope and pray Lord that you bless the world on your arrival and bestow your blessings on all the Earthlings . So be it.So be it. So be it.
This year when a certain virus started showing its head at the end of the first quarter of the current year 2020 , we got familiarized with a new name called
the ” Pandemic ” . We are now almost in the last lap of the third quarter of 2020 and
life has changed in some ways that we had never ever imagined before.
The festival season has started and ” Ganesha Chaturthi ” is one of the most favourite and most looked forward festival
especially for we Bombayites.
Well, this festival during the pandemic made me walk down the memory lane once again.
as good memories are what we hold onto with fondness.
When we were residing in Chedda Nagar in Chembur we would get up very early in the morning and make sure to visit the famous Tilak nagar Ganesha Pandal wherein every year a new structure depicting an important architectural wonder would be erected.
Visiting friends houses who bring in Lord Ganesha is also something I look forward to. Its also time to drape a sari , meet friends , savour the yummy Indian delicacies, visit the Ganesha temple closeby.
It is always sad to lose a loved relative from the family and especially if it happens on a festival day it’s all the more sad .
This pandemic has changed it all and the mantra to be followed is – stay home, stay safe.
The big day came and went quietly .Hoping against hope that Lord Vignahartha the remover of obstacles blesses the entire Universe and works HIS magic to bring the pandemic to an end maybe in the form of an effective vaccine.
Wishful thinking is something that we can expect from the superpower is what I firmly believe in!!
So Dearest Vignaharatha , for now all that I can pray is that we all survive this pandemic for now and welcome you next year with full zeal and enthusiasm as always.
“Ganapati Bappa Morya , pudachi varsha laukarya”.
Margazhyi month is synonymous with kolams, kacheris ( vocal carnatic musical concert) and devotion. It seems it is considered to be more of a spiritual month in South India.
In a musical concert among the many musical accompaniment instruments the Veena is a string instrument and the Mridangam is a percussion instrument.
Today is Sankatahara chaturthi ( Sankashthi) which happens to be an important day connected with Ganesha
Day 28: My kolam has the Vignahartha, the remover of obstacles on a Sankashti day along with the Veena and Mrindagam emanating melodious tones .
Pink Blossom 