SummersofIndia

Friday, January 21, 2011

Hi

Hello to all my friends and visitors. I was busy with the festival and also all my friends and family came together to celebrate this festival of Sankranti at my place . We kept it very low key in view of the sufferings of all those farmers of my state, who lost their crop due to heavy rains. This being a Harvest festival, we just could not celebrate with our brothers and sisters of farming community suffering heavy losses. We all prayed for their happiness and better crops at least next time.

But we enjoyed our get together-talking, sharing, planning...Well celebrations means all this not just some rituals.

I am also suffering from severe back and shoulder pain. So it was difficult for me to type. Now its a bit OK. So I will try to post. I have so much to share with you all.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Rangoli-87

Sankranti Rangoli-3

Here are some more designs.

This is one of the square designs. I have kept it very simple. I will post more elaborate ones later. See how the four horizontal and vertical lines have been used.

Here are two more simple but small designs;

These two small designs are known ad "Gade" in Telugu. Gade means granary-the place where they store the grain after harvest till its use. Why these designs are so called I have no clue. A granary in South India is made of bamboo and coated with mud with a slanting top above. The top may be covered with dry grass.

Since India is a country of villages and most of our lives are very closely associated with agriculture, it is no wonder that the things like the tolls used for farming, cattle etc-related to agriculture form part of our Rangoli designs. This is one example.

How intricate these designs look. Again I have kept them very simple. They can still be developed upon to get a bigger Rangoli. I will post bigger versions of these some time

So Keep watching my blog for more interesting designs...

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Rangoli-86

Sankranti Rangolis-2

This is second in the series of Sankranthi Muggulu. But before posting next series, I want to answer a question raised by Sri Sandhyagaru.

The Designs drawn using lines (straight, horizontal or criss cross lines) are known as Dravida Muggulu or the Rangolis of Dravidians. This sort of designs are also drawn by the people of Tamilnadu during this auspicious month which they call it as Margazhi.
However some special designs which are drawn during this month and also during the four days of festival are peculiar to Andhra region.
These designs were once drawn during the entire month before Sankranti festival, including Sankranthi. Also on Ratha Sapthami day, which comes after Sankranthi, when the Sun is worshipped.

Thanks a lot Sandhyagaru and other friends who are appreciating my work. I want to keep this art form alive for next generation.

Now for the next series of designs.

These are small designs but a bit bigger than those posted in my previous ones.

This can actually be further improved upon depending on the space and our creativity.

This is one of the designs I drew. I have just put some turmeric and flowers

This is a square design. Here too I have put some turmeric, red coloured vermilion, flowers and red berries. These Rangolis are not coloured.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Rangoli-85

Sankranti Rangolis-1

India as you know is a country of villages with agriculture as the main occupation. Many of our rural folk are dependent on agriculture and its allied branches like cattle, poultry etc. No matter what all our lives are still related to those roots-our villages and our lands either directly or indirectly.

Sankranti is a very important festival for all South Indians. Specially so for the people of Andhra Pradesh known as Andhrulu who speak the language of Telugu. This is basically a festival related to agriculture. We can call it as harvest festival. Crops like rice, sugar cane, pulses, turmeric, castor, groundnut, sesame etc which are grown in my state are harvested and the granaries are full of grains. Rural folk are now free for some time from all those chores related to farming and agriculture till next cycle of farming activities. So it is a good time for celebrations.

Sankramana means the Sun entering a Zodiac sign. Sun enters one Zodiac Sign and remains there for a month. He finishes his tour of all signs in a year. The month Sun stays in the Zodiac sign Sagittarius is considered very auspicious. This falls in middle of December and continues till mid January. This month as I have already written in one of my posts is known as Dhanur Maasam.

During this whole month, though it is winter time and quite cold, women of the house get up very early in the morning. They clean the front yards and sprinkle cow dung mixed in water. When it dries, elaborate and beautiful designs are drawn using rice flour or lime stone powder. All this has to be completed before Sun rise.

These designs are known as Muggu in Telugu. These are drawn for Lord Vishnu (one of the Trinities) who is said to visit Earth (during this auspicious month) early in the morning before Sun rise. It is believed that the beautiful designs, beautiful surroundings attract Lord into our houses. So while drawing these designs, one of the Lords 1000 names, or any Mantra is chanted silently. Some people also sing songs praising the Lord.

There are some designs specially drawn during this month. These are known as Sankranthi Muggulu or Nela Muggulu. Nela means month and Muggulu means the designs. These designs have some symbolic meaning depicting the spiritual and religious meaning of this festival on one hand and reflect the various aspects of the life of the rural folk on the other hand.

I feel very sad that most of these designs have been lost. Over the past two decades or so, women are drawing those huge fancy designs using dots as these can be filled with colours. Traditional designs are almost now not known to younger generations.

However the traditional designs drawn on this occasion are drawn using lines. No dots are used. Long thin tube like structures made from tin, iron or bamboos have a set of holes (8 to 9 rows) in them. These are known as Muggu gottaalu (tubes). These are filled with the white powder(rice or lime stone) and rolled on the floor. Dotted lines are formed on the floor. These are joined to get the desired shape and design. Experts of these designs draw directly with out the help of these tubes.

These designs are intricate and geometrical in nature. Two four or more parallel lines are drawn to get square, rectangular, triangles and circles. Then they are further modified or improved upon to form very beautiful and intricate designs. Thin lines and drawn as near to each other as possible spells out the expertise of the artist. Straight lines and curved lines are used.

Designs contain geometrical patterns, twigs containing leaves, grain ears, creepers or vines, vegetables like pumpkin, onion, gourds etc, sun, moon, stars animals or birds which are vehicles to Gods and Goddesses like, peacock, tortoise, snake, tiger, lion, mats, chairs or thrones, chariots are drawn to welcome and seat the Gods and Goddesses. These represent the daily life of the rural folk.

The most important design is Chariot. I will write about each design as I post them starting from today. Here are some:

These are the horizontal or vertical parallel lines and a mesh of these two lines used as base for drawing designs.

Here four horizontal and four vertical lines have been used to draw a small design.

One more design using the horizontal and vertical lines.

Here I have drawn using the powder on floor. Drawing on paper is quite easier than on floor.

These are very basic designs. I have drawn very simple and small designs. You will be amazed to see how big and intricate designs are drawn using simple parallel lines.

These designs are then decorated using red or yellow earth as well as flowers, turmeric and vermilion.

Practise these small ones. I am going to post more bigger and intricate designs in my next posts.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Rangoli-84

Floral Rangoli

I seem to end up with Rangolis using 13X7 dots. While I am drawing one design, ideas flash through my mind. So immediately I try to put them on paper lest I forget. So I end up posting designs with same set of dots :). But I think I should post designs of different themes, sizes and shapes. I will keep this in mind in future.

First place 13X7 dots.

Join the dots as shown

Another way of drawing it.

Decorate it with borders on two, four or all six sides to enhance its beauty.

More to come so keep a watch on my blog....

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Friday- Free Patterns

Sorry friends I am late once again in posting the Free Pattern. But here it is..

This design was inspired from the designs sculpted on to the walls of temples. This is a floral design, classic one.

It can be used as a single motif on blouses, tunics, tops etc. It can also be used as multiple motifs for the sari pallus etc. Chain Stitch, Satin Stitch, Running Stitch can be used. it can also be used for fabric painting.

Hope you like it.

A Request

Oh I wanted to post some very special Sankranthi Muggulu used during this month of Dhanur Maasam. Well, one thing is I have forgotten most of them. So I need to recollect. My stash of all those old note books, cuttings from papers - mine, my mothers and granny's and also my aunts are all some where. I need to search them and put them all together in one place. This means I have to wade through a very dusty and huge dump of papers books and what not. The little time I am getting these days, I feel so lazy. Its very cold-unusually cold here and I feel like taking rest instead of organising my paper cuttings and other things.

Secondly I need to write on different patterns and what they mean. For that I need to do a little research. This is difficult as these days most of the people go in for the more stylish designs on various themes drawn using dots. these designs are easy to colour and look beautiful. But the actual special ones drawn using the help of lines are more geometrical and cannot be filled with colours. Though they have a beauty of their own, todays generation have almost forgotten them. They have special significance -religious, traditional and symbolic. We can still find them in front of some houses in small towns and villages. But I could not visit my native place during this time.

Well I am going to first post all those I remember. I will search for my collection. However, I request those from Andhra or other Southern States who have knowledge of these special designs to kindly send me those designs to my email id and any thing about them (what they mean, why they are drawn etc) you can share.

I am collecting those old forgotten designs specially meant for Dhanur Maasam and Sankranthi. I would be really grateful if you can send me what you know. I want to preserve them for the next generations. Already a lot of such designs have been lost. So please help me.

Keep track of my posts as I am going to post those special designs from now on...

Rangoli-83

One more Rangoli on Six Pointed Stars. This is a bit geometrical. Again 13 X 7 dots placed in between as follows:

Then join as follows

I have added the blue arches out side the dots. That is they have been drawn with out dots. Hope you like this design. This is easy to draw and great one for filling colours...

More to come so keep a watch on my blog....

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Rangoli-82

Here is one more Rangoli. Six pointed Stars.

This is 13X7 dots placed "in between" like this:

Then join as shown above. This is very easy to draw. This is also great for filling colours.

Hope you like it.

More to come....Keep a watch on my blog......

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Rangoli-81

Here are some simple Rangolis again. 5X5 dots for each block

One block

I have used these blocks here by placing them separately one near another without combining.

Another design slightly modified.

Here I have combined the dots of each block with other. That is one row or column of dots are shared between two blocks.

Rangoli-80

GEOMETRICAL Rangolis

I wanted to post so many Rangolis. But I had some problem with my camera. Any way now that I have got it rectified, I will be posting more Rangolis. Especially since Pongal is nearing more so.

Here are some Rangolis which are Geometrical. I could draw only few designs that too smaller ones. I din't have time to pen bigger ones. These are easy to draw and good for flats and houses with lesser space in their front yards.

These are 5X5 dots.

These blocks can be used as such or combined with other blocks or designs to form new ones. I will try to post some more bigger ones next time.

Hope you like them.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Satin Stitch

Hi Friends!

I was just doing some spring cleaning(in winter time) :). I wanted to weed out old clothes and other things which are stuffed in my storage space and I have no space for so many new things. Every time I do that, I religiously weed out old ones, but slowly one by one I put them back thinking, this one I can wear for some time etc etc etc. Out of hundred I weed out, I put back nearly 80%. After that I again think that I need to seriously make space for my new stuff.

Anyway here is what I found recently.

This was a cushion cover. White in colour. This was my first attempt at Satin stitch. I was a little girl then. So this piece is old. The cloth has worn out with innumerable washes. But the embroidery is still looking good-may not be as bright as it was before. May be slightly faded. I am really amazed at the colours still there. The company which produced this thread..Coats India.. needs to be appreciated for such excellent quality.

Some how I don't feel like throwing it away.

I am thinking of cutting the square out of this and add to my album under Satin Stitch. What do you say?

Saturday, January 1, 2011

My New Year Resolutions

This year I wanted to make some resolutions. After all New year means, new hopes, aims, goals, new aspirations, lots of enthusiasm, a breath of fresh air, lots of dreams, bringing around changes, starting afresh ....With out all these life remains boring and depressive.

I feel no matter where we are, how much hardships or difficulties we are facing in life, our spirit should not die. The spirit of picking up one self after a fall, fighting against all odds to prove one self, working our way, silently but steadily to reach our goals...all these make us and our character. One should never bow down to circumstances with out putting up a fight. One's spirit should never die.

So every year I make some resolutions, try to stick to them. But I do fail in keeping up with many resolutions....:) :) after all I am human...So this year I have decided to write them down properly with a sketch of how I am going to achieve them...Some of my resolutions are:

I will take care of my self-physical mental and emotional health and keep fit. early to bed and early to rise, eat proper nutritious food on time, exercise (physical as well as mental) regularly, sleep well, reduce tensions and stresses ....
Better Time Management so that I don't waste time, organise myself, my time and every thing I do so that I have enough to pursue my hobbies and interests without skimping my duties and responsibilities....
Improve my communications-keep in touch with my family friends and relatives as much as I can. This is one area where I neglect a lot, though I am basically very sociable person. So many misunderstand me....
Keep in touch with you all by posting more on my blogs. I have been neglecting the other two blogs. Even in this blog I am not able to post all that I wanted to share with you...
Learn something new- a language or arts N crafts, brush my old skills and knowledge and improve upon the skills and knowledge I already possess...
Finish at least some of my pending projects(hobbies and crafts) and will not start any thing new till I complete them...
Do something for the Society, my family, friends-- even little things that can bring happiness and smile on their faces....
Enjoy my self no matter what.....

Well I need to write them down and work on the nitty-gritty so that I am successful in achieving these goals...

What do you say friends????? Any ideas of how to achieve these????? Do share your thoughts and suggestions too...