#stringsofheritage 4 - Strings of Heritage

Diwali

by Anupama | Oct 28, 2017 | Festivals & Celebrations

A long break from writing…and not by design let me tell you. Immediately after Diwali I was all set to share my Diwali with all of you. But that weekend my friend who visited me told me to start immediately with the school hunting for my child and I was already late. And lone week on, there’s not much in terms of progress. At this rate, I think my child is destined for home schooling. So this school thing has been messing my life real time. I just could not sit still and write. But I have realised that life has to go on… so today I have chucked the worry under the carpet and decided to tell you all about my Diwali.

It is such a lovely festival…a favourite with everyone. Even one week on, we see that Facebook and Instagram are still lighted up with images from Diwali. Diwali conjures up images of Diyas, flowers, sparklers, new clothes, yummy sweets, a lot of laughter, get-togethers and all things nice.

Diwali Decor. Pic Credit – Preethi Prabhu

This Diwali was really special for me as it was all about feeling good. I intentionally decided to light up from within. You know I am a great gal…but I have a very bad habit of hoarding. To the point that when my friend sent the carpenter for repairs and some changes, we did not have to buy a thing….I had everything he needed! Well times like these I feel good about my hoarding habit…but what about all the 364 days…even I was fed up with the clutter. This Diwali was a time for resolutions and changes. And how! I am so super pleased, I can’t stop smiling.

7 Tips for a clutter free home from a novice

All that needs to be sorted has to be boxed and labelled. Keep it in storage, go through in phases and clear it. I used to have it lying around, until I got down to sorting and it was so messy I couldn’t think and felt like a failure just looking around my home.

Nooks for display

A gallery wall- this one’s a gem. Preethi Prabhu from Transforminions helped me do a gallery wall and style my work space. Until then, I did not appreciate the wonderful collection that I had of paintings, masks and displays. It was only when it was arranged and put up that I could feel the impact. I would highly recommend this to anyone who has no reservations about nails. This one took some cajoling and convincing as my hubby was totally against drilling the wall. But it’s all worthwhile… especially when I see it every day. First measure the wall and arrange it on the floor. Only when you are happy with the arrangement go for the wall and the drilling machine (This gyan is from Preethi. Hop over to her blog to check out interesting DIYs in home decor)

Gallery wall for Diwali

Those repairs…my kitchen was in dire need of a carpenter. A drawer had caved in, a cupboard door had come off and it was a catastrophe waiting to happen. I got those fixed and so many items went to their rightful places. A stitch in time saves nine…so true!

A corner in my Kitchen

Less is more…this one’s a real treasure. My display nooks which were cramped with collectibles were also contributing to the overall chaos. So these spaces were first cleaned up and just two large pieces were assigned in each nook instead of the earlier six or seven. This brought in a sense of calm.

Less is more. Pic Credit – Preethi Prabhu

A place for everything and everything in its place. Let me not go over the top. I am still working on this one. In fact, I am still “a work in progress” where being clutter free is concerned. But I work on it every day in small ways. So I am sure I will get there one day.

The Foyer

Just don’t buy it. Resist and resist. I don’t think our ancestors ever had this problem of clearing clutter. For one thing this consumerism is the bane of our generation and the next. We tend to buy even before we think it out. So hold your horses before you splurge.

My work space for diwali

Share and gift. Sometimes we end up with a lot of things that we bought say in a sale. I especially do this with handicrafts and home decor items. I had three dhokra wall hangings which I had bought and never used. This time we gifted two of them to the people we loved. Look around you…I am sure you will find something to gift or share.

Diwali décor from my home

For me it was all about going clutter free. How was it for you? What was your focus?

Clutter free Diwali decor

I also needed a pleasing space to work in. So I happily got a lively shade of blue. Not one but four shades in small 200 ml boxes. This was the first time I tried painting a wall and I should say that it was wonderful. Though I wanted to do an ombre wall, that is four shades in gradation, when I saw the last shade, I so loved it that I made waves with this shade all over. What do you think? How’s it come? Then it was time to style it with a bookshelf, that I already had elsewhere (I just moved it to my blue wall) and a pin up board. Tada…

Diwali decor

DIY Pin up board– I had seen an ikat fabric covered pin up board in Preethi’s office (You can see her office tour here) and that was when I decided I wanted a custom made one. Half pin up and half black board. I already had this board from Amazon. Preethi and me brainstormed on how to achieve the look I wanted. It was a pin up on one side and a black board on the other. After removing the frames, we cut up the black board halfway and a foam sheet (I already had this!) was replaced, covered with a kakamkari cloth (I was supposed to get a kurti made out of it). This was all glued together and the frames replaced…lo and behold I got this one-of-a-kind pin up cum black board. You could try this…let me know how it turns out.

The Sandalwood box from my granny resting on the cash box belonging to my hubby’s grandfather

Diwali involving kids– I want my child to feel a sense of involvement in all the festivals. So from last year, Diwali is the time to buy earthen Diyas in varied shapes, sizes and paint them in different hues. It’s a favourite bonding activity for both of us. Then she gifts them to her friends, my friends and relatives. We also use some…so each one of my Diya is unique and we light it with a sense of pride. And yes you can do it by yourself or with your spouse. Children are just an excuse to bring out the child in us.

Diyas in different shapes and colours

Also the savouries and snacks that I prepare, I enlist her help and she is all of five. But she loves that she gets to do something as important as laddoos and cut through for shankarpalis. In fact we are so used to doing things in one way, we stop thinking about them. My five year old wanted pyramids and smileys in her laddoos and that is exactly what she did. And off course I also got a Diwali Hamper from Sinful slices…they make the yummiest cakes and desserts.

Rava laddoos or pyramids or smileys?

Diwali Hamper from Sinful Slices

Even after so many days past Diwali, the glow of Diwali remains. It remains in my soul and my home because I intended for this Diwali to light my life from within. Try it for yourself, Diwali was just an excuse…and don’t forget to tell me about it.

Lots of Twinkles to all of you.

Anupama

Bakula Nayak

by Anupama | Oct 15, 2017 | Art & The Artist

Here I am writing of an artist, Bakula Nayak whose work is a love story with elements of the fairy tale and whimsy. And I can only think of what a lovely person she is. Shall I tell you of the artist, her journey, her work or her home? It’s been days since we met and the post is pending as I wanted to include her video, which is yet to happen. But even after so many days, I can still feel her exuberance, her positive vibes and her creative instincts. Having visited her home, seen the books she loves, the artwork she chooses to display (none of her own!), her notepad of sketches and ideas, her love for the ordinary and the extraordinary, I can see why I am so muddled and lost for words. Bakula is the fragrant flower who spreads the joy of love through art, but has a sad place in her heart from where soulful poetry flows.

Bakula Nayak – An Artist’s Journey

Two cozy rabbits – Art by Bakula Nayak

I first came across her artwork in Facebook, which had a lovely pair of birds having tea and her trademark was the vintage paper she used as her base and inspiration. One good thing about blogging is that you lose all inhibitions you would otherwise have. So I immediately connected with her and wanted to meet her. When I meet someone like Bakula Nayak, it makes me very grateful for my work. Otherwise how else would I have met such a wonderful person? Luckily we have a connection and she shares her life with me. Having lost her parents, she treasures their love letters she came across a long time after. Having only seen them as an ordinary couple who never publicly expressed their love, she tells me that it was a revelation for her. Seeing all her drawings treasured by them, brought it all back and she started drawing after a gap of nearly twenty years.

Birds! Seeing this my child asks me if they are her mummy and daddy? A child’s favorite subject…And yes they are her parents!

Birds, tea and a garden. All that Bakula loves.

Flashback -Though her first love was always design, she could not attend the interview at NID as her father was against her leaving Bangalore. With limited options she completed Architecture, but decided to study design in the US after her engineering. “It wasn’t easy, especially as I had to follow the heavy Southern accent, use the internet and live alone in a foreign country.” But she did manage and came back to be with her mother who was suffering from cancer. Her mother’s only wish was to see her daughter married and Bakula relented. With just a few emails she knew that she had found her soul mate in her husband and they got married. Her mother’s health improved dramatically after the marriage and she lived for some more months happy that her daughter was finally married. She talks of happier times, the drawing competitions she would prepare for, the prize that she received from Rekha (the popular Bollywood actress) and rolling shields. Her mother would always encourage her to conceptualize and plan before she started drawing. She had to draw events from the newspaper such as Indira Gandhi’s cremation and that habit helps her plan her sketches even to this day. She extends the same encouragement to her children and I saw one of her son’s painting which was awesome.

Bakula Nayak’s workspace

Motherhood

Inspiration –Bakula Nayak finds inspiration everywhere. Her Unplugged series is a witness to her curiosity and attempt to bring the extraordinary to the common man in a simplified and child like manner so as to render it accessible. Tyagayya unplugged, Sangam unplugged, In Adoration of Krishna are her unplugged series where she decodes and demystifies. What connects me to Bakula is that each of these unplugged series is her personal journey, her understanding of the each of these subjects “which picked her rather than the other way around”. I feel the same way with my blog posts, they are my journey, my learning and experience which I share with all of you.

Interpretation of the Pichwais . Art by Bakula Nayak

Unplugged –Tyagayya was one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music who wrote musical compositions in Telugu using that which he found in everyday life. Bakula Nayak happened upon the translation in English and rendered it in watercolours. This series sees Rama and Lakshmana sharing a moment of brotherly love but as birds. The Yamuna in another painting is shown in all her splendor as a kind mother who loves all the flora and fauna around and in her. I loved this elaborate painting. Nauka Charitham shows Krishna as a bird, where he works up a storm so that the Gopikas who were teasing him will have to ask his help and be humbled. Sangam unplugged is Tamil poetry on love and war. In Bakula’s words she “only knows Love” as a mother, an artist and a lover. With any tragedy in our lives, it becomes difficult to keep our faith in God and her faith was shaken with the death of her parents. ‘In Adoration of Krishna’ explores her relationship with Hari and the more formal settings of the Pichwai paintings find their place on Bakula’s canvas showing aspects of motherly love with a cow and calf, and divine love with a pair of herons. With the final painting, she says that she just could not do it and Hari had abandoned her. It is this creative honesty which is so much a part of Bakula that endears her. Her signature style of whimsical on vintage paper is usually presented in collaboration with artists from other spheres.

Romantic love -An interpretation of Romantic love. Art by Bakula Nayak

The Yamuna river forms a part of the Tyagayya Unplugged series

Collections –She collects anything and everything vintage. Right from matchboxes, matchbox holders, frames, mirrors, photos to aftershave lotion bottles fashioned like cars. I loved her collection of antiques and her ‘vintage stash’. But off course with Bakula, it’s the birds you see everywhere.

Bakula Nayak’s love for all that is old

Bakula Nayak – An Artist’s Journey

Bakula shows me a passage from a book that she is reading and it’s all about the ‘creative surplus’ in an artist which creates an interaction and ‘impels the artist to love and understand the world for its own sake.’ With inspiration, Bakula dips into books to understand and love the world. Bakula Nayak is an inspiration to explore all that is within you waiting to be explored and let free. It is not just her art, but her courage in exploring an aspect of herself which had not seen the light for twenty long years. Her courage in fighting back when her health is not great and losing herself in art which only shows love. Her poetry is a small window to her soul but she chooses to assert with love. Her home is a reflection of her personality and I have some lovely glimpses from her home. But that is for another day. Until then stay inspired. Light up from within.

Bakula Nayak – An Artist’s Journey

The bird is lost in the melodies just as we lose ourselves in the beauty of these paintings. Art by Bakula Nayak.

Lots of Twinkles to all of you.

Happy Diwali.

Anupama

PS – Images of artwork by Bakula Nayak are her property and need her permission to be used.

Bombehabba at Sankalpa

by Anupama | Oct 7, 2017 | Festivals & Celebrations

“Amma, who is that giant?”, “Krishna is trying to steal benne!”,“Such cute chairs!” There is no end to the questions and exclamations. Curiosity and enthusiasm are the secrets to a life filled with wonder. The bombehabba brings this wonder not just to the children but all those involved and lucky to come across it. Though we don’t have the custom of displaying dolls during navratri, my child is lucky to be a part of the beautiful Bombehabba at Sankalpa.

The Policeman at the forefront of all the celebrations

A view of the display

A snapshot of the Dolls Display

Bombehabba is celebrated as part of the Navratri festival in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Known by different names such as golu, kolu, bommala koluvu, bommai kolu and gombehabba, the spirit of the festival is the same…unmatched enthusiasm for the dolls. The meanings for the different names are ‘Divine presence’, ‘Court of dolls’ and the ‘Dolls Festival’. The children love this festival and it brings out the child in the adults. It is believed that when the Devi took on the demon Mahishasura, all the gods gave their powers to the Devi. This rendered them to a doll like state. The Bombehabba at Sankalpa and everywhere else is an ode to their sacrifice. An offering is made to the dolls on display and distributed as prasadam. Festivals in India are occasions for celebration and socializing. The Bombehabba is more so because of the unique arrangement in each household depending on the different themes. The “ooohs” and “aahhss” are countless. Usually arranged in steps, some opt for odd number of steps and some houses are totally ruled by the dolls, ranging from one to several rooms.

The New Town featuring malls, apartments and cafes

This navratri was all about Mangalore Dasara for me and I had decided to write about Bombehabba only next year…but when I saw the beautiful Bombehabba at Sankalpa, I HAD to write about it…let me show you all that I saw.

The Pattda gombe – Also called Pattath Bommaikal or Marapacchi bommai, they are the main dolls, depicting the husband and the wife. Given to the bride by her parents, they are the first of her collection of dolls to be displayed at Dasara. Made of teakwood, rosewood or sandalwood, they are dressed and decorated in silk and accessories. Alongside the Pattada gombe, a wedding ceremony is also featured here.

The Pattada Gombe

The Pattada Gombe decked up in jewellery and silks

Goddess Saraswathi – She is the inspiration, the centre and being of Vidya or learning. Children are seen at her feet, bowing to her in humility and prayer.

Ma Durga – Riding the tiger, she is the epitome of courage, bravery and will.

Gowri and Goddess Lakshmi look resplendent and complete the Devi in all her forms. The Goddess is the epitome of compassion, learning, courage, goodwill and wealth. The Navanayikas, the Ashtalakshmi are all symbolic of her benevolence.

The Navanayikas

Saraswathi Puja is an important aspect of the display

Krishna – many of Lord Krishna’s Bala Leelas are depicted at the Bombehabba at Sankalpa. The Benne Krishna, trying to steal butter, the scene of the Govardhan mountain being lifted by Krishna with just his little finger, Krishna eating butter are some of the depictions that are very popular with the kids. Instead of us telling them about it, they will be the ones to educate us on these pranks. Krishna’s marriage to Rukmini and Rukmini Shringar are not to be missed. I especially loved the maid holding the mirror…Shrinivas Kalyana is also depicted with all the Gods and Godesses in attendance.

Krishna and Balram stealing butter

Krishna Rukmini wedding ceremony

The couple selling provisions – I loved the small vessels around them with the chillies, spices, grains and grams. The vessels in sandstone, brass and copper are truly appealing.

Vessels in different materials

Prahlad Pattabhisheka – Prahlad, the king who brought back happiness to his kingdom, who replaced the evil with the good and who set a new benchmark for devotion.

Kumbhakarna and Bakasura – with all the tasty snacks before them captured the attention of the kids and then it was all about them and their stories.

Kumbhakarna being woken up

Prahlad Pattabhisheka attended by the Gods and Goddesses

Ram and Hanuman – Hanuman bringing the sanjeevni and the monkeys building the Rama Setuve needed some elaboration. Miss A has a question…”If I write Shree Ram on a rock, will it float? Then we could also go to Srilanka! What fun!” Well….I wish.

Village life – The scenes from a village are beautifully translated in this Bombehabba at Sankalpa. The grinding stone immediately transported me back to my childhood home. When I used it for the first time, what pride I felt! The first masala ground by me maybe when I was 10 or so..
Not because I had to do it, but because I wanted to!

The Harvesting season and Pongal– I loved the simple yet effective way of bringing the reason and the celebration together. The many stages of growing our food are all seen here.

The Grinding stone

Stories I say – Stories are an all time favourite with kids and everyone else as well. The lion and the mouse, the thirsty crow, the cunning fox, the crocodile and the monkey are all there waiting for you at the gombehabba at Sankalpa.

The star of the show- is definitely the Mysore palace and the Dasara Procession. Including the ambaari, the cultural extravaganza and the band leading the way, it’s amazing. The view from the archway is awesome, right up to the palace. Flanked by the zoo on one side and a park on the other, it gives us a glimpse of the festivities around Dasara. The lions, Ms. Jyothi Chetan tells me, are inherited by her and are more than a hundred years old!

The beautiful display of dolls during the Dasara Festival.

The Dasara proccession

The Kondapalli toys were looking majestic and I have decided the minute I go off my ‘no shopping phase’ Iam going to buy some for myself…ok not some but at least a pair!

The School – complete with the building (a DIY made of chart paper), the teacher, students with benches and desks, a blackboard and a fan! Most apt when the Bombehabba is at Sankalpa Montessori School.

The Town – The cityscape is depicted with high rise buildings, quaint houses ( a DIY of paper cups), channapatna toys, vehicles, roads with humps and bumps( the speed breakers), the streetlights and vehicles. The cute chairs and tables in plastic, the malai kulfi seller, the play area for kids are all super cute.

The school with the teacher and students

Kondapalli toys

When I visited, I couldn’t resist asking the visitors about their favourite doll in the display…Check out the video on that.

All in all, a wonderful team effort to showcase the gombehabba at Sankalpa in its full glory. Kudos to Ms. Jyothi Chethan and her wonderful team.

The team at Sankalpa headed by Ms. Jyothi Chetan

Lots of Twinkles to all of you.

May the festivities continue to bring light and goodwill in our lives.

Anupama.

PS- If you miss it this year, no worries. You can always take this as an inspiration and have one of your own next year. Don’t forget to send me pictures though.

Swarna Jewellers – The Goddess Beckons

by Anupama | Oct 1, 2017 | Tours & Experiences

This season is all about the Goddess and her different forms. And I am all inspired by the Devi. Celebrating all that is feminine, I wanted to do a blog post on jewellery featuring the Goddess. As I was thinking of approaching a jewellery house, I could only think of Swarna Jewellers. Reasons were many. It is not just the BIS mark which is the hallmark of good quality but more importantly, it is a matter of trust and the bonds formed. Swarna Jewellers have always believed in forging bonds with their customers, with excellent service and customized designs.

Swarna Jewellers- Beautiful combination of pearls, pink stones and Lakshmi

Swarna Jewellers have their own team of expert craftsmen who bring these designs to their customers, working on them at their production unit ‘Swarnodyama’. Swarna Jewellers was established in 1964 by the Late Gujjadi Narasimha Nayak and the legacy has been passed on to the family. All their branches are managed by the family, which gives it the distinctive touch of a family owned business with traditional values and modern outlook. Having traditional and contemporary designs, I was spoilt for choice. I decided to go with the theme of Devi and love it that I got the opportunity to present my readers with the different designs featuring the Goddess and all that is divine.

Swarna Jewellers- Devi

Just as the Lotus rises above the murky water with its pristine beauty intact and unblemished, the Goddess calls to us to rise above our ego and reach the divine state of self realization. It is the Lotus, which is divine that inspires divinity. The Goddess Mahalakshmi sits in a pink lotus in full bloom and also has it in her right hand. She is the Goddess of good fortune and wealth. Ma Durga, the Goddess of power is adorned with a garland of lotus. Goddess Saraswathi is worshipped for wisdom and her divine seat is the white lotus. Lotus has a divine significance not just in Hinduisim but also in Buddhism. The Lotus is purity, spiritual awakening and rising in divinity. Swarna Jewellers have many beautiful pieces with the Lotus as inspiration.

Swarna Jewellers- Inspired by the Lotus

Swarna Jewellers- The Lotus and Lakshmi

Saraswathi is the one who leads to the essence of self knowledge…She is the Goddess of knowledge, music, wisdom and learning. Raja Ravi Verma’s painting comes to mind, whenever we think of Goddess Saraswathi. The Veena is her musical instrument and she is the muse of the artist. Swarna Jewellers have translated this Goddess of wisdom to Gold with designs inspired by traditional features.

Swarna Jewellers- Saraswathi with the Veena

Swarna Jewellers – Intricate designs with the peacock

The Ashtalakshmi are the eight forms of Mahalakshmi symbolizing the eight forms of wealth. Wealth is not just money or riches, but also good health, progeny, abundance, knowledge, strength and power. Ashtalakshmi is popularly depicted on Kalashas (the urn used to water the holy basil and in Puja) in silver which is an integral part of any household. At Swarna Jewellers, the Ashtalakshmi is seen on this waistband in solid gold.

Swarna Jewellers – Ashtalakshmi

Swarna Jewellers- Jhumkas in antique finish

Using antique dyes, there were many pieces in antique to tempt me. I especially loved the beautiful Jhumkas with Lakshmi, the parrots and the peacocks which have a special significance in our Vedas.

Swarna Jewellers- Parrots and pearls

Swarna Jewellers- A small budget but a class apart.

Swarna Jewellers- Jhumkas in antique finish

The handmade Nakasu work with Siva’s family being lifted by Ravana was one piece I couldn’t resist in this post. The beauty and intricacy of the work is mind blowing. Gold as such needs no introduction, but this piece is truly marvelous.

Swarna Jewellers- Ravana in the service of Eeshwar’s family

Swarna Jewellers- Intricate Nakasu work

Swarna Jewellers have their branches in Mangaluru, Udupi, Hubballi, Sirsi, Dharwad and Bengaluru (Click here for the address). Swarnodyama, the production centre provides a platform to the creativity of their designers and craftsmen. In fact, they also promoted and helped Manipal institute create a Jewellery Design and management course. Motivated by excellence and traditional values, they have also crafted jewellery for the GSB Seva Mandal Ganapathi with no profit margin. When I spoke to Ajay Gujjadi at their Mangaluru branch, he said that it was an act of service and not business. They also specialize in temple art and jewellery.

Swarna Jewellers -The traditional Mishri in a contemporary design. With a screw it can also be used as a waistband for kids

Though I am in a ‘no shopping’ phase, a girl can always dream and plan. So this festive season I have earmarked the designs I loved and have made plans to make these my very own. The ‘Swarna Sanchaya’ scheme is just the thing for me. I get to fix the amount for a monthly investment for ten months and have to buy the jewellery by the twelveth month. The best part is that I can pay the monthly amount on any day of the month and the gold rate of that particular day is considered for the purchase. So it works quite like an SIP and the prize is my favourite piece of jew ellery. Yippee!!

This festive season if jewellery shopping is on your agenda, do check out their designs.

Lots of Twinkles to all of you.

Happy Festival!

Anupama

PS- This is a sponsored post but the opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.

Onamotsav Day2 at the ECA

by Anupama | Sep 22, 2017 | Festivals & Celebrations

Day 2 of the Onamotsav was bright and beautiful. After the wonderful function of Day 1, Day2 began with the Pookkalam competitions, the sadhya and the Onaraagangal with the members participating with lots of enthusiasm, showcasing their musical talent.

Traditional dress of Kerala- the Kasavu

The sadhya is an elaborate meal prepared especially for Onam with nearly 32 items. The fried snacks include the salted banana chips which was something we always asked our colleague to get from Kerala. Served on plantain leaf, I was totally spoilt for choice with the number of pickles before me. I especially loved the Puli inghi (which is made using ginger and tamarind) and the naaranga achar (made of wild lime). After this the side dishes, rice, rasam and sambhar followed. I believe there is a certain order in serving these items. The best part was that every now and then, someone or the other would come along and ask us if we wanted a second helping of any item. I totally enjoyed the hospitality and loved the meal. Even the payasams were more than one! When I asked some members on their favourite part of Onamotsav, it was the sadhya and the cultural programmes organised by ECA. The kids off course loved the sadhya!

Sadhya the traditional meal of Onam

After the sadhya, it was the melodious Onaraagangal and then the Double Thayambaka by Cheruthazham Chandran, Chirakkal Nidheesh and Team. This was one energetic performance of over more than an hour! Mainly a templeart, it is also performed outside during festivals and any important milestones or functions. The main chenda performer improvises rhythmically on his team’s beats. In this case there were two main chenda artists, which is called the double thayambaka. It began with a slow pace, picked up the pace and ended with energetic frenzy. In fact the audience was so thrilled and immersed in the performance, I could feel the place pulsating with tremendous positive energy. Towards the end, one of the audiences was virtually playing the beats with the artists and their involvement was definitely a show in itself! After felicitating the artists, it was time for some selfies with them. Onamotsav was definitely an unexpected treat for me to see such talented artists come together for the show.

Double Thayambaka by Cheruthazham Chandran, Chirakkal Nidheesh and Team

The deep tone of the Mizhavu by a promising artist from Kerala (with just the palm and fingers) stayed with me for a long time even after Onamotsav. Though traditionally always played as an accompaniment to Koothu or Koodiyattam, it is now also being performed solo. It is a big copper vessel covered at the mouth and placed on wooden platform specially made for it. Earlier clay pots were being used but were later replaced by copper. When I was reading more about this, I found it fascinating that it is regarded as Brahminic, and all the rituals followed for a Brahmin are followed for the Mizhavu, like the Upanayanam. When it can longer be used, it is cremated with ceremony!

Mizhavu artist using the copper pot with his hands to create music

Mizhavu and Chakyarkoothu – Performance at onamotsav

The Mizhavu was the accompaniment to the Chakyarkoothu by Kalamandalam Ramith Ramesh. The Chakyarkoothu is a form of monologue and a blend of humour, mime and satire. With sandalwood paste on his body with red dots and an unusual head gear, he resembled a jester. Usually based on epics and Puranas, he dons several roles and also gives commentary on the socio-political scene. It begins with an invocation, some dance movements and facial expressions, accompanied by the deep tone of the Mizhavu. The performance at ECA was based on a scene in Ramayana, involving Rama and Sugriva. He also used this opportunity to ridicule many in the audience. Where it is his job, everyone took it sportively, turning around to see who the butt of his joke was. Though I did not understand him completely, I think he even made fun of me as I was only looking through my camera! It was a very spontaneous performance along the lines of the stand-up comedy common today. Towards the end, he humbly apologized for having pulled everyone’s leg. It was an enjoyable evening but I couldn’t stay until the end.

Onaraagangal by members

After this I stayed for a few more minutes to see the introduction of the D4 Dance winner team of Ramzan Mohammed. Too bad I couldn’t stay for the whole programme. All the same, Iam happy I could be part of this beautiful celebration, even if it was for a short while.

I loved it ECA!

Lots of Twinkles to All of you.

Happy Navratri.

Anupama.

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