She came home on Mahalaya...

It all began one July afternoon in 2011, while having chai on our terrace in Bangalore, 

Mr. Husband and I were reminiscing about our respective childhood days spent in Calcutta, West Bengal. {Yes, both of us had Grandparents who lived in the ‘City of Joy’}

The rich culture, the distinct architecture, the warm people and the simple daily life in the land of the Goddess is so deeply engrained in our memories that we wanted it to be part of our lives today. To be depicted in the form of art that could be cherished everyday. Forever.

With each painting that Dithi Mukherjee uploaded on her blog, we knew that she was the only one who could bring our memories alive with strokes of her paint saturated with Bengal folk-art and mythology.

Dithi Mukherjee needs no introduction but let me try.

She is a self-taught artist and a print-maker from West Bengal, India living in Geneva, Switzerland. Her paintings are inspired by the rich traditions of India, her childhood memories, her experiences in the magical land of Bengal, the folk art and the music of the Bauls… 

Her unique style of painting has the viewer getting lost in the eyes that are nectar-filled pools of beauty.

Away from home.
The unabashed use of a vibrant palette of colours, the Bengal influence makes Dithi's work very exclusive.

Kumortully Ghats 

Mother and daughter.

Her talent weaves magic on anyone who looks at these canvases steeped in vibrant hues.

On a personal level, I met Dithi online via Vineeta’s blog in 2009 and there was an instant connection.
A creative connection. 
A connection fueled by our love for India, the great admiration for our culture and traditions. 
A connection shared with many cups of steaming hot masala chai over the internet. 
A connection based on our love for the beauty of life. 
A connection based on the highest regard for each other’s creative work.

We commissioned Dithi to paint for us amidst her hectic travels between Geneva and India and our imminent move to Minnesota.

For us, Calcutta is our favourite Bonedi draped in the traditional soft Bengal handloom saree, the Shanka pola (White & Red Bangles), a hand fan for those hot humid summers, the black & white flooring on which we as kids ran with abandon during our summer vacations. 

Few weeks before Durga Pujo, 2012 with each exchange of mails, with each shared thought, with each experience, with each stroke of her brush the Bonedi was getting transformed into someone mystical, someone magical, someone embodying the supreme feminine power. 

She was becoming the Goddess. 

She was becoming Durga.

She was becoming Maa.


In October, 2012 Dithi was leaving for India to be with her family for the Pujos and she mailed the painting of Maa just before she left.

Each day passed filled with the anticipation of Maa’s arrival. 
....and then finally.

A beautiful golden handwritten note by Dithi.

She arrived!

Maa arrived on Mahalaya. 

{The auspicious day that heralds the advent of Goddess Durga, the beginning of the Navaratris}

Dithi elevated the painting to a completely superlative creative level with her interpretations, the profusion of colours on the canvas, the lotus-petal eyes to drown in, the spring-green ‘pakhi’ Her consort, the crimson-coloured fingertips, the Bangla composition by Rabindranath Tagore that runs along like an intricate silk border that holds the painting so delicately.

Maa's space in our humble abode.

The birdcage on the camphor chest is representative of the profound composition 'Khanchar Pakhi Chhilo' by Rabindranath Tagore depicted in the painting.

Here is the translation.

Meanwhile in Calcutta, Dithi helped me get a bunch of traditional Bengali Sindoor Daanis’ {Containers for storing Vermillion powder} which I wanted to be part of Maa’s corner in our home.

Along with the Sindoor Danis came Tara Maa's Magical Padukas. 

I have mentioned before in many of the previous posts that whenever art in any form comes home: It is a blessing. 

With Maa coming home to us, in our new home, in a new country, we feel completely blessed!

When the ochre lights come on in the evening.

Thank you Dithi Mukherjee, for giving us Maa!

Hop over to Dithi's blog to read her post on the creation of Maa.

( Copyrighted Images by Arch, Painting by Dithi Mukerjee. Please don't use without permission)

Women of Kutch and their craftsmanship...

Wishing all the lovely readers of Rang Decor a very Happy New Year 2013!
Thanks for being so patient with my sporadic posts.
My Macbook Pro, my companion of 5 years decided to blank out, taking with it all my image editing softwares and also my enthusiasm.
Got myself a new Mac but had to wait for my softwares, I wanted to give the photographs it's due respect before posting it on Rang Decor.

Before I begin, I want to share with you all a little story (which I had shared earlier on Rang: The Colours of Life) as to what was the motivation behind our trip to the magical land of Kutch in Gujarat last winter.

Flashback:
Weeks before our scheduled trip to Kutch, travel books were devoured, online friends contacted, gave Tripadvisor.com maximum number of daily hits, spoke on the phone for hours.....

....and then suddenly we stopped.

People travel for different reasons, different interests, different purposes.

What was our purpose?
We wanted to experience the land; the dry, harsh, unyielding land of Kutch.
The people; the strong people who looked at natural disasters in the eye, who boldly faced the fury of nature and yet remain warm; hospitable.
The craftsmanship; the needle & thread combination creating magic along with twinkling mirrors.
The history; the past.

So we re-drew our plan. Re-plotted the destinations on the map.

Last week of December, 2011:
Fueling ourselves with hi-octane enthusiasm, a heavy Lowepro bag and a tube of sunscreen we set out with Akil our driver from Bhuj into the villages.

The Mutwas, a Muslim Community who hail from Sindh in Pakistan, inhabit the Banni area in Kutch. They are known for their extremely intricate embroidery using tiny mirrors. We decided to visit one such community in Dhordo village.

We reached the doorsteps of the very hospitable Miyabhai Hussein Mutwa. The Mutwa embroidery is done by the women of the community and according to their customs outside men aren't allowed inside.
So while Mr. Husband spoke to the men in the outer room, I & the daughter were led into a open courtyard of a traditional Bhunga complex.
Within a matter of few minutes I had shook hands with a dozen smiling women and children, made to sit on a soft quilt covered charpouy and examined by twelve pairs of inquisitive eyes.
They asked me about my life in the city. I inquired about their work, their life there in the village.

Suddenly Shabnam, one of the Mutwa women came to me with her needle & thread, pulled the edge of my mirrorwork shawl and started working on it. Within a minute she had made an intricate eyelet around one of the mirrors.

Before:


After:

I didn't need to see any of their work after that.

So what you will see in the post will be an ode to the women of Kutch weaving their magic using colourful threads, beads, mirrors and paints...

Their creativity and skill is used in every aspect of their living. Making intricate jewellery using tiny beads.

Doll-making by young and old depicting their traditional attire.

A Meghwal community woman sits with her needle and threads in the sun after finishing her daily chores.

A pretty little girl with a star tattoo on her cheek, joins her mother in making some intricate bead jewellery.

The one piece that I picked up to remind me of this beautiful art and land.

Each village in Kutch is home to a unique art form. The intricate designs painted on terracotta pottery in Khavda Village, Kutch.

Kutchi Embroidery is a very broad umbrella under which comes very different styles                                            belonging to various community and region. 

It is heartening to know that many big NGOs have taken different communities in Kutch under their care and have been working closely with them to provide them livelihood and a platform to showcase their  superlative work to the world.

NGOs like Shrujan, Kala Raksha, Qasab Craft, Khamir, Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan- Maiwa and many others work with these crafts women in the Kutch region.

Below are few humble attempts at capturing some of their stunning handiwork. 

Mutwa Embroidery with the use of very minute mirrors.

Rabari Embroidery one of the well-known styles of Kutchi embroidery. They are known to use mirror in different shapes for their work.

Jat Embroidery by Danetah Jats. Their style involves closely stitched patterns all over the cloth.

Debaria Rabari Embroidery

Aahir Embroidery which involves round mirrors arranged in circular patterns.

Neran Embroidery 

There is a universe of stunning intricate embroidery and styles in this land called Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

The feminine power, the women of Kutch play the role of homemakers, toil in this harsh un-yeilding land, bring up children, their strong hands tell stories of the life in the desert but they also are the creators of the most beautiful, intricate art and craft weaving a spell on anyone who steps into their colourful world.

Kutch does that to you. I still wake up with the smell of firewood on my shawl and the image of beautiful smiles welcoming us into their humble Bhungas!

( Images by Arch, they are copyrighted. Please don't use it without permission)

Diwali Wishes to all Rang Decor Readers...

Spreading light and happiness...

I have a little ritual of picking up new diyas every Diwali. 
A pair of whatever catches my fancy. 
So when I saw these ceramic sunflower diyas flooding the markets in Bangalore last year, I bought a few.

They sat snug in one of the cartons that transported them to Minnesota, until I rediscovered them and decided to do something with them. So that forms the first part of the story.

During our various travels across India, we also have a quirky ritual of checking out hardware stores in small towns. 
Yes, hardware stores:-)
For ceramic tiles. The local hardware store will always have some interesting local, folk, cultural design  representative of the state or region.
So during our last trip to Kutch, Gujarat. We picked up few tiles in Bhuj.

 Some pretty peacock motifs on tiles.

Shubh-Labh written in Gujarati, Devnagari script.  Shubh- Labh along with Swastika symbol denotes auspiciousness, profit and prosperity. 
So it just felt so appropriate to use it for my Diwali decoration.

Some fresh Chrysanthemums snipped from my birthday bouquet. Some lovely cylindrical candles.

The real and the ceramic flower combination works well for me:-) 

Pulled out a cane placemat that seemed to compliment the browns of the ceramic diyas, played around with the composition.

The peacocks seemed very happy to be in the company of fresh flowers and candles. 

These would make an interesting setting on a table where you plan to entertain guests during Diwali or at the entrance to usher your guests in.

So let your creativity flow, spread loads of happiness and light this Diwali season!

Wishing all of you a very Happy, Prosperous & Safe Diwali.

(Images and Styling by Arch)

Check out the complete compilation of Diwali Decorating Ideas & Inspiration on 
Rang Decor Facebook Page.