I was busy

So sorry. I was busy with Diwali. We have not celebrated it full fledged as we donated the entire amount to be spent on crackers and other festivities to the flood relief. But still there was cleaning and weeding out old and unused stuff, decorating the house with flowers and diyas. This too we kept it to bare minimal. But visiting friends and relatives...after all this is the time to renew our bonds even those people whom we were not able to contact for some time.

I wanted to bring you so many glimpses of our festivities but with my sis and mother ill, I just could not do any thing much.

Now I am relatively free so am going to post on Indian embroideries and other arts and crafts ...Keep watching

A helping hand

Some regions of Andhra Pradesh have been hit by floods last month. Though there was not much loss of lives, there was of loss of property, crops, livestock worth millions of rupees.

India is a country of villages, where agriculture was and still is the main occupation. The crops that are grown here are diverse as the climatic conditions are. Our agriculture is dependent on monsoons mostly. The rivers and tanks are fed during the monsoon season.

This time around the monsoon which begins by mid June and continues till almost November-December, did not give much rains till mid September. A drought situation prevailed. But the heavy rains during the last weeks of September had resulted in floods in one of the main rivers-Krishna. Uasually in such situations the poor or lower middle class who settle along the banks of the rivers or tanks are the ones who are most affected. But this time around, the higher middle class and even the rich were not spared as Krishna waters entered the town of Kurnool. We all watched the horrifying scenes where people were perched atop fifth or higher storied buildings submerged up to fourth floor were crying out for help. Then they were rescued and shifted to camps. But their belongings and houses were destroyed by water. Even for the middle and upper middle class is it possible to replace all their belongins, repair their houses at one go?

They lost everything in their homes either to water or to the vandals who make most of it during the absence of the residents. All of us glued to our TV sets were praying for the safety of the people there. Hospitals, shops, police stations, everything was submerged under water. Thanks to our rescue teams, the people could at least save their lives.

The first few days we were busy packing food, water and medicines and sending them through various relief groups. Later on we pitched in by collecting cash, clothes, blankets, food stuff and other required articles as much as we could and send them there. We are still on the job.So many organisations, institutions, individuals are coming forward to help them. Specially the media helped a lot not only by telecasting the hardships, but they them selves rescued many and helped them by providing food and shelter. No matter how much we help, it is much less as millions, lost their everything and it will be months before they can even settle down. Those who were rich once and were giving a helping hand to others were seen embarrassed to be put in relief camps, but what could they do?

But what moved me the most were some little snippets of news. Children giving away their pocket monies and savings, beggars begging and donating from their earnings. One daily wage earner who is not sure of earning one square meal a day, donated his earnings of two days for flood victims. Its these selfless acts which should motivate other people who can afford but don't help out.

We have already decided not to celebrate Diwali and donate to those people. We are just going to restrict it to very low key-offering prayers and praying for all those brothers and sisters out there. How can we be happily celebrating when our own fellow country men are thrown out of their homes?

My humble request to any one reading this, please do help the victims by donating what you can however small it is . The Government or some organisations/institutions alone cannot help so many millions out there.

I just hope after reading my plea even one person helps in any way, it would be a blessing for all those suffering there........

Toda Embroidery "Pugur"

Toda is tribal embroidery from the Southern State of Tamil Nadu. The tribe known as Todu inhabit the Nilgiri hills. Both men and women wear a shawl known as"Puthukuli", which is their traditional costume and looks some what like Roman attire Toga. But the way women wear this is different from the way men wear it. The shawl is adorned with embroidered .Heavily embroidered attires are worn during ceremonies and festivities.

About Toda embroidery :

This is a very distinctive and intricate form of embroidery. It is known as"Pugur" meaning flower.The women of the tribe do the embroidery. The ground fabric used is cotton, which is coarse in texture and unbleached-off white colour. The fabric has alternate broad stripes of red and black length wise.,each six inches apart. Embroidery is done in a long, continuous length wise bands between these stripes.

The technique used is an intricate form of Needle Weaving using only one stitch that is Darning. Motifs are worked, by counting the threads. So the beauty of the embroidery depends upon the precision with which these ladies count the threads of the fabric and then embroider.

Embroidery is done from the back side of the fabric using a long darning needle, weaving a short distance, turning around the fabric and weaving the thread back. The embroidery is so finely executed that it looks like weaving. Embroidery is reversible and Todas use the rougher under side of the fabric as the right side.

The patterns used are geometric, reflect Macedonian influence and are inspired by the nature; Sun, Moon, stars, flowers, snakes, etc. Buffalo horn is widely used motif. Other motifs used are Izhadvinpuguti, which is a motif named after their priest, mettvi kanpugur is a box. Rabbit ears is always embroidered at the edge of the fabric to avoid it from unraveling itself. These days the embroideries are not just restricted to shawls but also to borders, table mats, bags, pouches and other such articles are made for tourists. But this art is dying and may vanish altogether if not properly safeguarded.

Toda woman wearing the Puthukuli

These are some of the wares on display at a recently held exhibition

See the red and black embroidery and the motifs used

I spoke with the person managing the stall.  He gave the above information.

I just could not resist buying two bags and some borders

These are the bags, I bought from the stall.

Another pattern on the bag below

This is the waist coat with the embroidery

This is a skirt below with the embroidery

These are the borders which I bought. These can be used as attachment to a blouse or a tunic.

Somehow I don't feel like cutting them up and using. I may retain them in my album of textiles and embroideries.

Just look at the beauty of the hand work.

Below the design on the reverse. It looks like its woven.

So how do you like it? let me know please.