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Friends, the auspicious month of Dhanurmaasam (Sun entering the Zodiac sign of Sagittarius) starts from tomorrow. It is a month long Rangoli festival. We clean our front yards, sprinkle cow dung mixed water and draw beautiful Rangolis-with or with out dots, using lines or free hand- before Sun rise. 

This is the time to show our creative skills. Every Indian women-especially South Indian women take this as a challenge, drawing, huge designs, very intricate, very creative. They include traditional as well as modern ones. 

With the winter at its peak this year(so early), it is so difficult to draw the Rangolis. Our fingers go numb after some time and drawing becomes difficult. To be in bending position for long time to draw these designs, our legs and back become stiff. But still we do this every year with out fail. For, it is a way of praying to the Lord for His Grace.

So here we go with the first Rangoli of the season:

The dots for this are:

21, 19, 17, 15, 15, 11, 9, 9, 5, 3, 1, straight dots.

I have chosen the theme of flowers and butterflies, as my garden is full of beautiful flowers and it is a delight to watch many butterflies visiting them. They let the sun rise and after 2-3 hours, sun themselves to get rid of the dew on their wings and then they go on their business. 

This is an easy Rangoli- warming up for much more to come. I will try to post at least one design every day. So watch out  for many beautiful ones to come.....

Your comments and suggestions do motivate me...so please take a little time to drop in your comments/suggestions....

Oh Don't forget to chant Lords name while drawing these Rangolis...it can be Sri Ram, Hare Rama, Hare Rama....or Govinda or anything which you like....

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Rangolis For Dhanur Maasam

        



        So folks get ready for the Dhanur Masam. We have less than a month for the month long Rangoli Festival. 
              
       I am already on the job, creating new  Rangolis. This time I want to create some new ones. Please do drop in your suggestions as to what all new areas/subjects I can explore for this. 

    I will also try to post the usual traditional designs of Nela Muggulu, if I can find some of them. 

      If any one of you can contribute those traditional Nela Muggu - which are drawn using lines, please do, as they are becoming rarer and the present generation does not know much of those designs. 

        So watch out my blog.......

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Kartika Purnima Special

Today is Kaartika Purnima, the Full Moon in the month of Kartikam. It is very auspicious day. Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are worshiped. Today is good for spiritual sadhana or meditation.

 This is 21 dots to 1. But 13 dots is 2 times. That is 21, 19, 17, 15, 13, 13, 11, 7, 5, 3, 1. 

A closer look. 

Since Lord Shiva is worshipped today, I chose, Shiva Lingam, Lotuses, Bilva dalams(which are dear to Lord Shiva) and rudraksha. Hope you like it.

Light as many oil lamps as possible today in the evening, in and around your home and if possible in temples too.

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Zipper Bag

Here is a small bag. Made from sturdy jean cloth and lots of zippers with adjustable long strap. So Colorful.

Don't be mislead with so many Zippers. There are only 4 compartments. Two on one side and two on the other. All other zippers are for show.

 Looks like this underside and out side. 

Just enough to carry your mobile and some money. So you can use all those zippers lying around or recycle old ones and old jeans like this,

Here is another one. These are a great hit with teenagers and young ones. 

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Bows On Your Feet

Do you like Bows on your feet?  Well here is the latest footwear for ladies with bows...

Available in other colours too. But I would have loved if the bows were in white colour or white footwear with black bows -- that is in contrast colours. It would have made these footwear even more attractive. Don't you think so?

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Multi-Purpose Storage Bag

We women buy accessories every time we get a chance. Especially purses and bags-different sizes, shapes, colours and what not. Yes we do require them whether we are travelling, going for work or for partying. There are also bags for storage as well as for carrying jewellery, cosmetics and other things.

Here is bag, which you can use for storing, carrying your jewellery or cosmetics. You can use it carrying other things may be cheque books, cards etc? Children can carry their pencils, pens etc.

 But mind you it is transparent. 

 It is light weight, available in different colours and not much costly.

You can just drop this bag in your tote or a bigger shoulder bag. So this is good for multipurpose storage and use. 

Good as a gift too-to teenagers or our friends. 

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Green Magnolia

Hello there. Today, I want to share with you something from my garden. It is green Magnolia Champaka. This is the first flower, since I planted it. I am so happy to see it flower. It lifted my spirits. 

Magnolia is known as Champaka in Sanskrit, Champa in Hindi and Sampenga in Telugu. 

Magnolia trees/shrubs were found in most of the gardens of South Indian houses, when houses were built in big plots. Now, because of pocket sized gardens and apartments in cities, we hardly find any of these plants. But during the season, our markets flood with these flowers, which come from small towns and flower gardens cultivated by the farmers. 

I only know three colours of this variety. One is the yellow or golden coloured one known as the Golden Magnolia. This is the most common variety. Here we call it as Simhachalam Sampenga, and Lord Narasimha in Simhachalam(near Vishakhapatnam) is worshiped with these flowers. It is also found in abundance in the areas surrounding the temple.

Green coloured one is also popular. This is known as Aaku (means leaf)Sampenga. The yellow and green flowers are sold in the markets during the flowering season. But the white one is very rare and I have not seen its flowers in open market.It is said that this plant thrives well in Himalayas and likes colder climate.

The yellow and white ones are trees where as the green one is a creeper. But I am maintaining it as a shrub.

The scent of each of these varieties is different. I love all the three, but the white one is very delicate to look at and also, its fragrance is very subtle. The flowering season is also different as far as I can remember. The green and the white flower in winter. But the yellow one flowers in summer. I need to closely watch the flowering now. 

Though I had all the three varieties, the yellow one gets attacked by termites. I have planted it twice and both times as it grows, the termites attack and kill it. I am not able to save it no matter what I do. So I have to plant a new one. Here take a look at the white and green flowers from my garden. 

The green ones are very difficult to find between the leaves. One has to rely on one's nose to locate these flowers :). 

These flowers are used in offerings to Gods and Goddesses and also worn in the hair by women. Usually a single flower (or at the most 2 to 3) is worn in the hair. These are also used in perfumes and incense.

It is said that snakes get attracted to the scent of these flowers and I have heard many stories from my mom and grand mother how these shrubs are infested with snakes. But here in the city where I live, no snake would dare to enter, our human infested jungle..:)...

You can read more about these trees and flowers here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_champaca

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Champa.html

I will keep you posted.......

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Diwali Special

21 to 1 straight dots. Wish you all a very Happy, Prosperous and Safe Diwali.

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Diwali Special

This time it is a square rangoli. Don't think it is small. If you spread out the dots-that is space out the dots, this may look much bigger. 

13 X 13 dots, 3 and 1 dots -extra on all sides for the Diyas(lamps). 

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Diwali Special

 5X5 Block

Swastika and Lamps and the colours of the festival. 

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Diwali Special

 6X6 block.

4 blocks put together. You can use one or more blocks as you like.

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Rangolis For Diwali

Hi Friends. Watch out for some new Rangoli designs for Diwali. 

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Hi Friends

Friends, I am sorry, I could not post any Rangoli designs for Dasara. I am still not feeling well. This year with the political situation in my State being not good at all, with no public transportation and the families of employees as well as the common man suffering due to agitation for the past two months, some how we also did not feel like celebrating the festival. And my niece also met with an accident, which shook us up. Now she is well.

Dasara being a religious festival, we just stuck to our prayers, fasts and other rituals during the past 9 days. But there was no enthusiasm or fun. No celebrations. Since the Navaratras are good and auspicious, I got on with my puja and meditation as much as I could do. I some how managed. So I could not do any thing else after wards as I felt tired after my sessions. 

With the cyclone Phailin's threat, we were worried about our friends and relatives staying in the path of the cyclone. We kept on praying for them and watching the news day and night. But luckily, the human loss was not much due to timely action by the Govt. Still the loss to the infrastructure and the coconut, cashew plantations and other crops is really very devastating to the farmers. We are grateful to God that there was not much loss of life. 

I just hope that I will post some nice Rangolis for Diwali at least. I am still not able to pick up any crafts or arts. I don't know when I will be able to. I hope that it will be soon. I have never stayed away from my hobbies for so long and I am also getting bored and frustrated. 

I thank all of my friends who have sent me very lovely mails and messages motivating me and filling me with lots of cheer and hope. God Bless You all.

Hope to be with you soon.......

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Hello to my Friends and Visitors

Hello Friends. I am still not up to doing much. I thought I was back to normal, when I posted in July that I was going to get back to my blog. But I suffered from an attack of viral infection and allergy again.  With that, I slipped back into my previous phase. 

I don't feel like doing any thing at all. I am yet to organise all my personal affairs after the crisis. I am slowly coming out of it. Sometimes again slipping back into the gloom and depression. When this happens, I just don't feel like doing any thing at all. 

Added to that my health is not up to the mark troubling me now and then. My right hand is still giving me trouble. So I can't do anything for long. Typing is also difficult. Then there are family crisis too. Phew! my hands are full. 

I am not able to concentrate much on anything right now. So I have stopped all my crafts and hobbies. Just getting my day to day activities done is a challenge now. 

And as if all these things are not enough, my computer and internet  are also giving me lot of trouble. My brother is working on it as I don't know much of the technicalities. Just the other day I though everything was fixed. But again I am having some problem. 

So I am taking one day at a time. I need to rest some more. Until I feel I can face it all and get back to my older self, I don't think  I will touch any activity. But still the artist in me keeps on poking me. Though I get lots of ideas and projects, I am not able to get into executing them. 

However, I was working on some new Rangolis-nearly 50 of them, I think. But I need to fair them and colour them. I will try to post some for Dasara. 

So there you are, I am not able to post anything as of now. But still, keep a watch, as I may post some Rangolis. And If I get well soon, I may start posting again......

Also thanks to all of you who are praying for me. Your wishes and mails keep me motivated.....

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Vara Lakshmi Vratam Special

This is 21 dots-3 rows to 3- straight dots. I have kept it very simple and easy. Hope you like it. 

The Kalasam (pot with mango leaves and coconut) is used in the Vratam or ritual. So I drew that. The pots can be coloured using free flowing colours or coloured sand. The rest of the Rangoli can be drawn directly using coloured powders/sand, instead of drawing and filling up it with colours, to save time.

I have used yellow, green, orange red and terracotta colours as this is an auspicious occasion. However, a touch of blue has been given, to break the brightness of the other colours.

I kept it simple because, I don't want to spend much time on the Rangoli tomorrow. There is lots and lots to be done in the kitchen(cooking, sweets, savories and other snacks) and also the Puja. The decoration of the Goddess Lakshmi itself takes so much time. It is ok, if there are other women or girls in the house to help. But doing all this single handedly is tiresome. This requires, lots of energy and time. Though I have created elaborate and big designs, I posted this, as I feel it is difficult to draw these on the D-Day as there will be no time. 

Wishing you all a happy Vara Lakshmi Vratam and I pray that all of us and our families are blessed by the Goddess with, Health Wealth, Peace, Prosperity and Happiness.....

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Independence Day Special

Here is the Rangoli specially for Independence Day. This can also be used for Republic Day

Center is 13 dots-5 rows. Leave four dots on either side and place 5 dots 4 rows. Join as shown and colour. Those who don't have much space like in flats can draw the center part-Flag with Diyas. That is 5X5 block. 

 This is 13X13 block. 

The Flags on all four sides have been added extra. 5x4 dots-5dots four rows.in the center(leaving four on each side. I have added these flags as I thought the 13X13 block was small. 

So friends, pick up the one which suits you and draw it tomorrow. 

Wishing You All A Happy Independence Day

Watch out for the Sravana Lakshmi Puja Special Rangoli.....

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Sravana Maasam Special 

This Rangoli, I have specially created for the Puja in the month of Sraavana or Saawan. But can be used for Lakshmi Puja, or any other Puja. 

Kalash, Swastika, and Lotus or water lilies liked by the Goddess Lakshmi and Gowri worshiped during this month. So I have used these motifs. Kalash is decorated with mango leaves and coconut as you can see. 

The dots used are 21 ti 1 straight dots. You can place one dot extra on all sides for the tip of the coconut. I have not placed that is why 21 dots. 

Have a closer look at the Rangoli.

Watch out for more.....

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Sravana Maasam or the month of Saawan is very special for us Indians. The North Indians worship Lord Shiva through out the month. Mondays are especially considered as auspicious for worshiping Lord Shiva. 

South Indians- on Tuesdays; married women worship Goddess Gauri (Consort of Lord Shiva), for longevity of their husbands, and well being of their children, in-laws, whole family, unmarried women for marriage to a good husband-in all a good family life. On Fridays- mainly the one before the full moon , all women worship Goddess Lakshmi for health, wealth, prosperity and well being of the family. 

The puja done on Friday is known as Vara Lakshmi Vratam. The Goddess Lakshmi is made by hand and decorated with silks and jewellery. Each house has its own tradition of how to make this. Women compete with each other to make their creation of the Goddess beautiful and special. 

Here is one which I decorated in one of the previous years:

So for celebrating this occasion I have been creating some new Rangolis.

Since we use Kalash(a gold or silver pot shaped vessel with a coconut on the top) in the prayers, I have used that as the main motif for my Rangolis for this month. So I will first post how I drew it. 

This is the basic pot structure I have used. I kept it simple as filling colour in the final design will be difficult. You can see the number of dots, how they are placed and how a pot is drawn using these dots.

This is one way of decorating the pot. There are many other ways which I will be posting in my next posts. 

This is pot with a coconut placed on a pot. This is known as Kalash. I have given just the basic one

I will also be posting variations of it. Look out for Rangolis for specially for the puja performed during the month of sravana.


OH! By the way this single Kalash motif can be drawn before the Puja mandir. This can be drawn for Lakshmi puja as well as the Puja done during Dasherah or other occassions.

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