Recently, I went to view the temple’s Golu for Navaratri. Golu is described as a doll festival, where households arrange religious dolls on an odd number of steps. It’s one of the ways Navaratri, or 9 nights, is celebrated. Navaratri seeks to honor the goddesses- specifically Shailaputri, Bhramacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.
Throughout the nine nights of Navaratri, many classical performances are held with songs and dances centering around the above goddesses, or any female ones. This year, I performed Amba Shambavi, an item on Devi.
This summer, in India, I’ve done a lot of crafts. These range from painting, to crochet, to embroidery, to balloon animals. They’ve all been a ton of fun and so I thought I’d go in detail about some of the fun things I’ve done this year.
Crochet:
I started learning how to crochet from my great-grandmother, who is a pro at it! We started small, with chains, then rubber bands, flowers, stars, and worked up to super cute bear keychains! I’m really proud of how much I’ve been able to learn in these 2 months.
Painting:
Using paints from my aunt, I first started painting in a coloring book. Currently, I’m working on a sunflower painting, but flipping the colors to their complementary versions (yellow is purple, green is red, etc.). I also painted a t-shirt using fabric paints! (also from my aunt).
PAPERCRAFTS:
Papercrafts are these dolls you can make! A game that I enjoy a lot- Project Sekai- offers up templates for these papercrafts for free, so I got to make a lot this summer! (8 in total).
Embroidery:
I started an embroidery project this summer, using a kit! I’d never really done embroidery before, but using instructions from my grandmother, I was really proud of the end product!
Balloon Animals:
This summer, I bought a balloon making kit. I learned how to make a balloon dog and balloon flowers! I got really good at making them and I still have a bunch of balloons left so I can’t want to keep making more.
Recently, I went to see Chennai Music Academy’s Mid Year Dance Festival. I went on the second day and watched both Lekha Prasad (disciple of Guru Priya Murle) and P.V. Adithya (disciple of Guru Sudharani Raghunathy) perform a 4 item margam consisting of a varnam and a thillana, the other two items being unique to the performer. I enjoyed both dances immensely, especially with the more intimate area, with a smaller stage and a live orchestra.
The first dancer, Lekha Prasad, started off with an invocatory item composed by Chirumanavoor Muniswamy Mudaliar. Next, she performed a 45-50 minute varnam called Sami nee Rammana Ve composed by Tanjore Ponnayya. Her aadavus were clean and I especially liked how she used her eyes in the abhinaya sections. Her poses were also well done and were once again, clean. Her angashruti was really good. After this, she performed an Ashtapadi- Yahi Madhava- composed by Jayadeva, then ended with a thillana composed by the Tanjore Quartet. I enjoyed her performance a lot.
Next was a performance by P.V. Adithya. He started off with a Kriti composed by Mysore Vasudevachar, in which his angashruti shone. Next was a 50 minute Varnam- Sami ninne kori- composed by the Tanjore Quartet. I really enjoyed his aadavus, as they were crisp and clear. Each aadvu was completed fully and even the faster speeds were clear. I also enjoyed his abhinaya. In conclusion, I really enjoyed the performances from the Chennai Music Academy. They were both well put together and presented and I am incredibly glad I was able to see these performances!
Recently, I got to visit the Taj Mahal, in Agra. It was a marvelous opportunity and I really enjoyed walking around the grounds and learning the history of the magnificent tomb Shah Jahan had built for his wife.
The Taj Mahal, along with its surrounding architecture, took 22 years to build (around 1632-1648). This work was completed by around 20,000 artists along with a team of architects who supervised them. These dedicated and hardworking builders lived in small rooms constructed around the Main Gate. The building itself combines Persian, Islamic and Indian styles, as Mumtaz (the wife Shah Jahan had built the tomb for) was Persian. In the tomb, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz are buried together, deep underground, in a small cavern that visitors are only allowed to see in the spring months (the month fluctuates as it is decided based on the Islamic calendar).
During this time in which the Taj Mahal was being built, Shah Jahan didn’t pay much attention to the politics and how India was running. Because of this, his son, Aurangzeb, put him under house arrest in the Agra Fort, where he could see the Taj Mahal being built. There is a tradition that states that Shah Jahan wanted his own mausoleum, made of black marble, opposite Mumtaz’s. Unfortunately, he was imprisoned and therefore was unable to ever construct this structure. Therefore, he and Mumtaz were buried together.
I recently attended my second WITS writing workshop with Omer Ahmed. In this workshop, we thought about the small things we did and how we can exaggerate them. I learned about some great tools to improve my writing skills. This is what I wrote during the session.
Arriving in Chennai feels like stepping into a desert. There are no ACs and everyone waits outside. When I round the corner, I see monkeys, jumping up and down, all wanting to get their customers first. Suddenly, I spot my grandparents, though one needs a telescope to see them. I rush through the crowds like a cheetah, anxious to get to them. They laugh and put their arms around me and we hurry off to the car before we melt into a puddle of nothing. I turn on the AC and the change from desert to polar vortex is very welcome. The suitcases and bags my grandparents bought are laden with gifts and I long to peek inside. I try to be sneaky like a snake, but the unwrapping of the gifts sounds as loud as a chainsaw. My grandmother glances back at me and her eyes pierce through me. After what seems like a million years, she smiles and I happily start to unwrap it again. I am joyful as I ride down the streets. I lean back, ready to make the most of this vacation.
If everything had gone by plan, I would be packing my suitcases and getting ready to see my grandparents this year. Instead, I’m at home, face-timing and messaging them, but at least I can still have fun with them!
Last summer I went to Udaipur, Rajasthan with my family.
I marveled at the mesmerizing buildings and wondering how much effort has been put into constructing them. Udaipur is a place I’d visit
The intricate architecture caught my eye and I couldn’t wait to see more of it. Udaipur has interesting architecture around every corner. During my trip to the Udaipur City Palace, I noticed how detailed and descriptive the drawings and pictures on the walls were. The space was well utilized.Every piece of architecture fit in perfectly.
Decorating with mirrors was a very common theme I noticed in Udaipur. Typically, a picture was painted and mirrors are placed in suitable locations. My family and I were equally amazed by the amazing architecture.
I couldn’t wait to learn more about the history of Udaipur. Udaipur has a very interesting past. Udaipur was ruled by the Mewar kings and the members of the royal family still live in Udapur. I am fascinated by the life in the era of kings. The kings in those days used to hunt and trap tigers and panthers in the surrounding Aravali hills. They also like to watch elephants wrestle for entertainment. My visit to Udaipur gave me a peek into a time period very much unlike mine. See you there!
I jump out of the car and am immediately engulfed in a wave of honks. Madurai is a place I’d visit.
I gaze at the busy streets full of cars, trucks, buses, scooters, and wandering cows. Madurai has busy streets.I count how many cows there are roaming around the streets. When the ride is over, I have counted more than ten! There are many cows in Madurai. The roads are in complete chaos. The cars, trucks, and buses are impatiently for the light to turn green. The people inside the cars seem to be yelling ” Go!Go!GO!Nagaru! Nagaru!Nagura! The people on scooters expertly weave through the crowd, forming their own small line.
A shop in the streets of Madurai, India.
I look out at all the buildings. Madurai has many interesting historical buildings.I survey the balconies from inside the car.Many of the balconies have an unique and intriguing pattern on them. I can see many religious places in Madurai. A temple, church, and mosque co-exist. They are built next to each other and show Madurai’s diversity.
I laugh at a cow and its calf wandering through the road. Madurai is a place I’d visit, because of the busy streets and the historical buildings. I also enjoy visiting Madurai, because my family live there.
