With the #AtoZ Challenge going on, Anna Shetty’s house under repair and Wow Dinga’s school working for just the hour in the morning, I was really busy this past week. Spare time was a luxury and I really didn’t have much time to stare at the sky!
But the little that I did see, made me want to rush out and grab the moment .
Here’s what I saw this week.
Later in the evening I found the building next door ablaze for the #MumbaiIndians. It looked spectacular all lit up.
Since I wasn’t part of the party, crowd, I could get up and enjoy this Sunday morning calm
But the partying was not over as the building was lit up for another spectacular affair.
I’d like to share a wonderful sunset that I captured before all the partying began last week.
I can’t believe yet another week’s gone by and Apri’ls half way done!
Today I am focusing on two traditions from the South. One tradition is elaborate and colourful . It has mythological characters drawn with strong strokes. And the other is a simple , creamy, white cotton with burnished gold.
Kalamkari
For many years I had this beautiful Kalamkari hanging on my wall. I could spend hours staring at the pictures of Ram and Sita and the demons as they played out the story of the Ramayana. This ancient style of hand painting literally means Pen Craftstmanship or KALAMKARI. The artists ( for they are no less than that) take their inspiration from the ancient myths and legends, more specifically the Ramayan and the Mahabharat. The cotton canvases show elaborate scenes depicting the Krishna Leela, the pantheon of Indian Gods and Goddesses, with elements like peacocks and lotuses providing the finishing details.
Can any of you recognise the two side stories of the Ramayan depicted above? Perhaps those who can read the script will find it easy but for those who don’t, it will mean a little hard work.
As you can see, this style is practiced largely in the Golconda and Coromandel regions where a the twig of a Tamarind tree is used as a pen. The colours used are natural dyes and the canvas in mainly cotton. However, you can also find silk Kalamkari saris and garments.
Kalamkari is also a popular furnishing fabric and I’m sure many of you have used it in your homes.
The Kerala Sari?
Why the question mark?
Well, because actually there is no such thing as a ‘Kerala Sari’ in the way as we know a sari to be : 6 yards of fabric. Traditionally, the Kerala sari is a two piece costume made of the finest cotton in soft, fine creamy,white with a border of plain gold. The gold bands are repeated in the paloo and the over all effect is one of stunning simplicity.
However, in modern times as with everything traditional, the Kasavu has been modified to a six yard length with variations in the border as you can see from mine above. But what remains unchanged, however, is the soft feel of the cotton.
Now isn’t this a gorgeous work of art?
Disclaimer : I am neither a textile manufacturer nor a historian . I am just passionate about textiles and fabrics. I have gathered all my information from the Internet. Please excuse any errors and omissions.
Long before the words Jewel Tones appeared in the fashionista lexicon, they’ve been part of our the Indian Textile Tradition.
The strong colours of ruby red , amethyst , citrine , sapphire and topaz have been popular in colour palette.They perfectly complement our Indian complexions, bringing out the best in our colour tones. And many of these colours are gifts of Mother Nature , sourced from beetroot, pomegranate, henna, catechu, teak tree leaves, turmeric, madder red, kesu, haritaki, sewali flowers, and indigo.
Ruby red and Amethyst
Red for instance is derived from Madder, a plant that grows in Gujerat. When used with alum, you get different shades of red and pink.
Sappan wood that yields a deep red is got from a small tree that grows primarily in the Southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
The bark and roots of the Morinda tree yields red and shades of deep chocolate and aubergine. It also grows in Andhra Pradehs, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujerat and West Bengal.
Yellow Topaz
Yellow is obtained from various sources. Turmeric is mainly extracted from the rhizomes of the turmeric plant. Saffron that is cultivated inKashmir and Himachal Pradesh is also used. The colour is extracted from the dried stigmas of the Crocus to get a bright yellow. Other sources of yellow are the outers skin of the onion and roots and shuzomes of Himalayhan rhubarb
Sapphire Blue
This is a simple no brainer for we all know about Indigo that King of all Dyes that yields the most gorgeous blues.
Ever since I began this series, I’ve received comments from my readers saying that they can identify many of my saris in their own mothers’ cupboards. Well, I’m sure they’ll find some Jamdani too!
Originally made in Dhaka, these saris also called Jamdani are commonly known as Bengali Saris. Fine as they are with their intricately designed motifs, they are a treat to the eye and a pleasure to feel. You can’t help but gape in awe at the transparency and softness of this fabric. It is no wonder then that this tradition has been declared by UNESCO as a Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Many of you will be pulling it out in the Winter months. This popular Kashmiri shawl is the Jamawar, a fine blend of cotton and wool and much, much cheaper than its tony cousin – the Pashmina
[Tweet “Jamawar is derived from the words Jama=Shawl and War=Yard.”]
The beauty of the shawl lies in the fine designs that are woven into the fabric with no loose threads on the back. Traditional motifs like the Paisley are most commonly used.
Disclaimer : I am neither a textile manufacturer nor a historian . I am just passionate about textiles and fabrics. I have gathered all my information from the Internet. Please excuse any errors and omissions.
Join me and hundreds of other bloggers participating in the #AtoZ Challenge 2017. I am also linking this up with #UltimateBlogChallenge and @Blogchatter.
Twenty- five Seven 