Happy Vishu and Tamil New Year

Had a lovely Tamil New Year and Vishu celebration in Blore and in Cmani.

Some butterfly soap suds kolams by the girls and a diya by all three of us was the highlight apart from yummy festive food .

My MIL made this lovely breakfats item which is like an akki roti in kodvade format. One more Kannada tiffin item that is a must have.
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In case you have not heard, the awe-inspiring utbt has launched an exciting program for book lovers in Hyderabad. You must check it out.

And Praba of Saffron Tree fame is upto a lot at her Little Owl in Chennai.

Bangalore will have a Dhaatu show in Indra Nagar towards end of the month. Did any of you go for the parade last Sat?

And cupcakes are so popular now that in Indira Nagar Simply Chocolates is also into them.

Eggsotic Banana Fest

We witnessed a rath yatra like a Tomatina fest , devotees ( teenaged boys mostly) were pelting bananas at the chariot, some even managing to land them on the top umberella! Aditi said they are " naughty boys" to be flinging anything other than a ball. Some lessons are well learnt.

Our apt housekeeping does not disturb rangolis till i smudge them up a bit at least. So got to take this snap of Anuska's handiwork.

Does zero comments mean zero readers? Apparently not as per statcounter. But still a few comments would not hurt me. Are you LISTENING?

Play Time

Some very interesting plays on air

There is one by Shuba Mudgal- Stories in Song
Katha Collage with Naserrudin Shah
Another week long fest sponsored by Deccan Herald

Then there is Kahaani and Paan Singh Tomar - two movies that seem like must watch ones.

Aali re Aali

Last night a little Marathi mulgee(girl) came home-

Anushka's Puppets of India

Anushka, at age 5, conceptualised and illustrated this work. In the book, Anush undertakes a journey across India with an unusual friend Chinkcha. They meet various types of puppets and generally have fun.

We 'released ' it on her 6th birthday. She had almost forgotten about it by then!

She is exactly six and a half today - as good a day as any to share this with all of you.

"Foreign" in India

The Spanish Mosque
It is always interesting and often impressive, how in older times itself western influences found their way into supposedly conservative domains.

Here are Anush's impressions of masters for Artsy Craftsy over at Shruti's

Hot and Happening- Hyderabad!

We spent the weekend at Hyderabad and covered a lot more than expected:

Footprints left at
Ramoji Film City
Falaknuma Palace, where we also had lunch
Golconda Fort and Qutb Shahi Tombs
Salar Jung Museum
Chowmahalla Palace
Paigah Tombs
Birla Mandir
Jain Temple and the Shiva temple in Kolanupaka village (also called as Kulpak)
Lumbini Park and Hussain sagar lake

Photo ops
Charminar, Mecca Masjid
Spanish Mosque in Begumpet
Bangles at the bazaar

Food
Ate at Falaknuma Palace, Chutney, Abhiruchi, Dwarka, Taj Mahal, Paradise, Hyderabad House
Enjoyed some punugulu from a street stall
Saw but did not buy anything at Karachi Bakery and Pullareddy

Friends
Met blogger friends- Laks, Ro and Utbt
Met old Blore neighbours who had shifted to Hbad last year

More on each of the above over the next few days.

Off we go...

Check this wonderful blog, in case you have not already got hooked on to it.

This is where we are headed this weekend, see you next week.

Year of Dinosaur .......not Dragon

I was just telling Anush the myth behind the Chinese custom of naming the years after this animal and that.

Was amazed how she immediately noticed and asked " Why did they not say dinosaur instead of dragon, amma? All other animals are real...."

Hello 2012

Opened the new year in Chintamani. Came to Bangalore, enjoyed a Dhaatu Ramayan carnival though not in enough detail. They had colouring, puppet shows, a walk through cubicles like sets, play acting, quiz, etc. Really a lot to take in, in the 2 hours we spent there.

Some Adittys to begin the year with a smile:
She sees an Oonjal( joolah) photo in a wedding photo album. "Amma where is slide? " she asks.

She wants the straight hair of a cousin and points to her own and says "Amma take off this, give me that!"

Wish you all a great year!

DrumRoll

Aditi's first train journey led us to a great trip. We spent Christmas weekend at Hampi, Badami and Pattadkal with our close family friends. Aditi and her friend were very entertaining and Anush and her buddy were on great behaviour having fun only as little girls do and imbibing a bit of the culture.

We realised we could have included Bijapur maybe with slightly better planning. So for those of you who wish to do this, keep it in mind- 3 - 4 days and you can cover all the places, assuming you are willing to start early daily.

While most of what we saw in Hampi is covered in the earlier trip post, there is a new pin hole shadow in the Virupaksha temple and a new bell has been discovered and displayed in the Krishna temple. We caught the elephant bathing session, a road side mehendi, a lovely trinket- a 2 paise coin finger ring and also did the boat trip across the river this time.

There are buggies now in the Vittala area and the dust is really way too much if the kids are allergic. The musical pillars have been cordoned off to the public since the structure looks rather unstable and possibly due to some mindless people using sticks and stones on the pillars!

But somehow the old grandeur seems to have diminished or since it was the second time, was my memory larger than the real thing?

Badami was fabulous despite the crowds. The cave temples/ durbars were filled with stories. The smiling Harihara and the seated Vishnu on the serpent will stay with me forever. The lake nearby saw an indulgent lady let Aditi wash clothes with her.

Pattadkal is sheer poetry and while Aditi's nature call made me miss some of the guide's gyaan, just seeing all the structures left me wondering what great skill artists and masons possesed in the years gone by.

Apart from the Mango Tree ( still too crowded and poor service and great ambiance) Badami Court and the German cafe on the other side in Hampi are places worth eating at. Small and cosy eat was the Durga cafe by the Virupaksha. Apart from the usual suspects, Israeli and Tibetan food have joined the menu in most eateries.

We were in an adequate enough place called Padma Guesthouse. I was afraid of the large lizard that paid us a visit once ( almost like a chameleon) but otherwise it was comfortable with a homely feel.

What was saddening is the brewing issue of the proposed dislocation of the smaller shops/ vendors/ autos near the bazaar to render a pristine historic feel to the place. While there must be another side to the issue some locals mentioned it is the vested interest of the powers that be. Here is a piece on that if you are interested in knowing more.

Nativity/ Manger Scene

I love this set. You can pick it up at VTI, Chennai or in Kodai at the Khadi shop.

Fine cross stitch done by Andhra ladies, I think Nellore.

And here are some more really cute ones- here, here and this DIY one

Lamps galore

Anush and her friend had a good time together and here is a pic from our Karthikai clebrations. The treats turned out truly yummy ( appam, sweet porri and adai). We also burst a few no-noise crackers and Aditi has really begun to enjoy them.

Aditi loves wearing dupattas on any attire and yesterday managed a click of hers in this cute outfit without one. The outfit is courtesy S's mother. Send in your orders to S if interested and also here is another organic cotton bag from the NGO they support which I really liked.

On a high

We got a Sabuda for a throw away price at the Strand festival. What are you waiting for?!

There is a Dhaatu Ramayan on Jan 1, 2012 for those who are interested.

Happy Karthikai- today or trow whenever decide it is. Have Anush's friend dropping in to celebrate it with her.

Colours

Nice that the colours of all religions come together this festive season.

While on colour, the flower laden trees in Bangalore and the flowers in Delhi are so inviting this season.

Anush got a fab review at school, except for her extreme intolerance towards noise! At home, she is one of the key noise makers...had a casual word with her on this.

Down and Out(ing)

Missed meeting M from Chennai who was visiting Blore since all at home have been rather unwell.

But met two good friends ( both from our alma mater) who dropped by at home. Great to see the kids bond as always.

I went to take a quick peek at the Strand sale and forgot to buy the book I most wanted- one by Sabuda!!

We went to Kala Madhyam at Chitra Kala Parishat . Picked up a variation of Warli called Chittara. Most of the stuff is made up of the regular suspects but some of it was enchanting.

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Me: Aditi! You love Amma ?

Aditi: Yes

Me:How much?

Aditi: Too much!!

Got to go!!

Went to the Hundred Hands collective and got some lovely stuff from NIMHANS, a Gond artist and even some yummy eats ...last year we had picked up Sanchi paper cutting work.

Managed a quick trip to Book Fair which was not as grand or crowded as last year.

Do visit ST for my recent review of an interesting book- Island's end

Dil Hoom Hoom kare

Another musical soul departs

I used to visualise the mighty Brahmaputra when this gentleman sang (even when he sang about the Ganga!)

Aditi at 25

Aditi has taken to singing to herself big time.

She is also an enthusiastic Happy Diwali 'wisher'

She has spontaneous bursts of affection where she half strangles you with her hugs and kisses and declarations

She is really manipulative with her well times sorrys and thanks

And the last two days she has asked to be taken to play school, contrary to the usual hell she raises to go there. ( though she does not even turn back once she is there)

She also has begun dressing up and preens in the mirror at times.

She is 25 months old today.

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Yesterday it showered water related stories and today it is fire that is sparking up tales at Saffron Tree.

Do visit and show us that you love stories and CROCUS.

The loveliest Golu ever

Went for the Dhaatu Golu and was completely mesmerised.

The collection is enormous in any case, but the details and the themes are wonderful. The Abhimanyu in the chakravyuh was the most enchanting in my opinion.

Wish they had a guide for novice collectors as to where to source dolls from .....

One pointer was the Govt marriage hall like place in Parry's - any of my Chennai friends pl go there and let me know.....