This edible Moodboard :)

 

:)

 

Mushroom bombs :)

Character explorations :)

 

some nature love! :)

 

Main Pyar ka rahi hoon ,, Chinna and Vinod Dua

:)

Blood orange sorbet with pomegranate juice! :)

 

Some orange madness :)

 

Season's Greetings! :)

 

Raspberry Mojito Mocktail illustrated :)

Raw banana Subj illustrated recipe! :)

 

Along came Molly :)

 

Rural girl! Character exploration :)

 

:)

 

:)

Explorations :)

 

Zulf ki chhao main - phir wohi dil laya hoon

Something I have been working on! :)

 

Character exploration! :)

 

 

Tamil girl! character exploration!  :)

O panchi pyare - bandini

Mora gora ang lai le - gulzar saab

Gulzar saab! :)

Maine kaha phoolo se

:)

Rajanighandha phool tumhare!

:)

Himlat pahate paha jagawar ali! - Kusumagraj! my humble attempt!

My humble attempt! for Kusumagraj's poem! 

:)

I soak some raspberries and rub them on my lips.

A little chilli on guava to feel refreshed!

I churn the clouds to make into butter. 

I pluck some stars to add some glitter.

Hugs are made of malai barfi.

mischief and tam-rind go hand in hand.

Happiness is seasonal as a mango.

peaches are a synonym for pure joy.

Tea tends to day dream....

coffee keeps the reality check.

cinnamon adds a punch

nutmeg puts me to sleep.

food talks in ways to life 

sour and sweet!

- Nirzara Verulkar :)

Illustration for the poem! :)

My poem on TDAC! :)

https://www.they-draw.com/illustrations/19991-a-small-poem-i-wrote-and-illustrated-about-food

check on the link above!

Baiya na dharo! my attempt!

please ignore the original funny video!

I love this song! Beautifully sung by Lata Mangeshkar!

Me tevha tashi

:)

Little girl! :) character exploration!

 

Today's watercolour exploration :)

 

Some Doodling and colouring!

 

Hadga! :)

 

some doodling that I did! :)

To simpler times of Hadga! A ceremony for all women! :)

 

‘How does the rain arrive?’ granny asks, ‘with elephant’s footsteps’ I reply.

 

I always wait for the month of October. To be precise for ‘hasta nakshtra’(elephant constellation). It’s the time of the year when it rains heavily. This is the time when all the girls and women gather and play Hadga (a ceremony)!

 

‘For a few hours we have forgotten about the adulthood.

We dance round and round, round and roud, round and round…..’

My Grandma sings!

 

I stay in the costal Maharshtra in a village called, Guhaghar. We have gathered over the beach to plan the arrangements for this ceremony tomorrow. First day of the ceremony will happen at my place. For the next ten days it will be held in different households across the town.

 

My elder sister has given me the responsibility of collecting different flowers across the town and invite all the girls and women from the neighborhood. Meanwhile she is going to prepare henna cones for all of us!

 

I first run to the Ganesh temple, with my friend Kalyani. Its almost twelve in the afternoon. But the sky is filled with black clouds. And mild rains are pouring. We are running with slippers in our feet splashing every puddle on the way!

 

We enter the Ganesh temple. Its an old temple. Built in red stone. kept very neatly. Just near the entrance there is a huge Bakul tree! The ground is filled with the Bakul flowers. These are tiny, off white, button like, flowers, which have a pungent but sweetest of the fragrance. Kalyani and I start collecting the the Bakul flowers in our baskets. ‘I will use them for the small garlands in my hair.’ Says Kalyani.

 

We go to the temple. I pray to the Lord Ganesha to help me get the ‘hadga’ flowers near the fencing of the temple. Hadga (or Bhondla) ceremony is named after these flowers. As they are available in the season.

 

The priest gives us crystallized sugar.

 

He tells us to collect the hibiscus flowers from the back of the temple. We rush to the backyard,jump over the temple compound, and we are delighted to find the pinkish red, elegant hibiscus. We hurriedly but carefully collect the flowers. Behind the the hibiscus tree is the mighty peepal tree, which guides one’s eyes to the spiral river....Our friend Ram and his elder sister Sarla are sitting in the boats over the river. We invite Sarla to our house for the Hadga ceremony tomorrow. She smiles and joins us for collecting the flowers.

 

Sarla has just passed the tenth exam. She is elder than me and Kalyani by two years

 

I know Sarla is from Koli caste. Sarla’s family has a fishing business. They also take people for the boat ride in the summer and winter.

 

And we are Brahmins. But in my house Grandma is strictly against the caste system! Even the woman who comes for domestic chores (house help) is treated like a family member and is invited to the Hadga ceremony. ‘Every caste has something precious and unique to offer’ says my grandma. She has taught us to look at the castes as different coloured flowers in a garland!’ each colour contributing to the beauty!

 

Kalyani, Sarla and I now head towards the temple fence. As I prayed earlier, I see a lot of ‘Hadga flowers’ within the reach! Hadga flowers are also called the hummingbird flowers, because they are beak shaped. They are available in four colours, pink, white, yellow and purple. They mostly grow in humid, warm surroundings. The white flowers are edible with a sweet lingering taste!

 

We use the sticks near the fence to pick the Hadga flowers. We then go to ‘Anna pavshe’s marigold farm to get the vibrant marigold flowers. We invite his wife, Arundhati kaku (aunt) for the hadga ceremony! She accepts tomorrow’s invitation and gives the marigold flowers generously.

 

Her neighbor is Mrs. Konnur. She is from kerala but she has settled in Maharashtra. We invite her too! And she gives us the effervescent champa flowers. We cross one lane and find the green champa flowers. Our friend Maithili gives us peach coloured aboli flowers. And promises to come for the ceremony.

 

We also find some pink madhumalati flowers and pretty roses in Deshmukh kaku’s (aunti’s) front yard.

 

With all the collected flowers we head towards home, carefully walking, making our way through the wet road.

 

I immediately start separating the different coloured ‘Hadga flowers’. I am going to use the pink and yellow (Hadga) flowers for the decoration and the white flowers to make pakoras. I tell my mother to make pakoras out of these flowers. My mother quickly makes pakoras. The fragrance of ajwain in the pakoras fills the house.

 

I distribute pakoras among everyone. I put one pakora in my sister’s mouth who is busy making henna cones. My grandma loves the pakoras. She tells me about one more recipe from the Hadga flowers. ‘Hadga flowers stir fry’

 

My grandma is going to make the ‘recipe for the ceremony’, tomorrow out of coriander seeds, sugar, poppy seeds and dry coconut. This will be given to all the guests, at the end of the games.

 

My sister has made the henna cones. Sarla decides to stay back for the night. Its almost time for bed. My sister gives everyone one cone and tells to start with the henna. The house is all filled with Henna smell. Kalyani is an expert in drawing intricate designs. We take inspiration from her and draw the designs. Kalyani draws the designs on my mother’s and grandmother’s hands.

 

My father feeds me rice as my hands are wet with henna! Today my father and grandfather are being shifted to my room as the living room and the kitchen has been taken over by the women in the house!

 

Next day, we clean the veranda. Kalyani, sarla, me and my sister start to decorate the the space. We have put brass lamps in all the four corners. We shall be lighting butter lamps. Kalyani is drawing the flower designs around them. I am drawing Rangoli on the steps, in the front yard. My sister is brought a small wooden plank. She has kept it in the center of the veranda.

 

My mother and sister are drawing an elephant design using rice and the lentils on the wooden plank in the center. And pray to the nature for prosperity. Hoping that the produce will come in the size of an elephant.

 

Its almost five thirty in the evening. Konnur aunty, Arundhati kaku, Deshmukh aunty. Three of my cousins, our house help and her twin daughters, and many more have arrived. With colourful sarees and fragrant garlands in their hair, our varanda is looking cheerful, colourful and festive.

 

Everyone has brought a tiffin with some special delicacy. These tiffins are placed in one corner and shall be opened later.

 

Now its time to play. We all gather around the rice and lentil elephant. Small girls like me form first circle closest to the lentil elephant, teenage girls form the second circle and my aunts, mother, grandmother form the last circle. We dance in circles while singing a song asking for blessing from Lord Ganesha for the success of the ceremony. 

 

In old times girls used to get married early in their life. So these (Hadga) songs were invented, complaining about the in-law’s house (In a funny way) and describing the love for the mother’s place.

 

These quirky songs are meant to distress the young women staying in her husband’s house. Making a healthy fun of the people in her husband’s family. For unmarried girls its painting of rosy picture that ‘when I get married my mother in-law will also arrange a Hadga to celebrate me’

 

Newly weds are very happy and are giggling wholeheartedly while singing the songs. We have danced to around twenty-five songs. We are at the end of the ceremony. My grandmother distributes the ‘cumin seed and sugar delicacy’ to everyone. Along with some Hadga flowers pakoras.

 

Now everyone picks up their tiffins and rattles them one by one. And we have to guess what’s in the tiffin. We eat all the delicacies one by one. No matter how simple or fancy.

 

All of us pray, laugh, sing, share, eat. Our faces are lit with the joy of dancing. We disperse, for the day, for next Hadga, that shall continue in different households, for ten days, to pray for unity, prosperity and wellbeing of all the women.

 

 

Raindrops form the melodies of my songs.

With sweet memories of my childhood, we are dancing in circles,

Thinking about my loving mother.

 

Genda, gulab, juhi, champa, cahmeli,

Like diverse flowers in one garland,

We hold each other’s hands to dance and sing to rain

to bring us prosperity, togetherness and joy…

 

For a few hours we have forgotten about the adulthood.

We dance round and round, round and roud, round and round.

- Nirzara Verulkar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explorations :)

 

Afreen... - Nirzara Verulkar

:P

My Favourite poem by shanta shelke :)

sarveshwara shivasundara by kusumagraj!

My favourite poem by Res. Kusumagraj :)

Beeti na beetai raina!

Directors’ Cuts: “Become Microscope” by Aaron Rose

Reminder to self! Always inspires me! Corita :)

Abhi na jao chod kar - sad version

Mood - fresh but still

Hello :)

 

Mann Kesar Kesar [Lyrics Video] || " Meenakshi Sundareshwar " || Sanya M...

Fragrant! :)

Badal Pe Paon Hain Song | Chak De India | Shah Rukh Khan | Hema Sardesai...

"Aahista Aahista (Full Song) | Swades | Shahrukh Khan

:) Magic of Javed ajoba :D

Lyrical: Kyon Hawa Song with Lyrics | Veer-Zaara | Shah Rukh Khan, Preit...

and yes magic of Javed saab! Always! :)

Want to illustrate this! :)

 I have chased after rainbows

I've captured one or two
I've reached for the stars
And I have even held a few
I've walked that lonesome valley
Topped the mountains, sewed a sky
I've laughed and I have cried
But I have always tried

'Cause I've always been a dreamer
And dreams are special things
But dreams are of no value
If they're not equipped with wings
So secure yourself for climbing
Make ready for the sky
Don't let your chance go by
You'll make it if you try

So try to be the first one up the mountain
The highest flying dreamer in the sky
And try your best to be an inspiration
Brothers that are still afraid and shy

And try to make the most of every moment
'Cause if you never try you never win
So try each day to try a little harder
And if you fail, get up and try again

You know nothing is impossible
If you can just believe
Don't live your life in shackles
When faith can be the key
The winner's one who keeps determination in his eyes
Who's not afraid to fly and not afraid to try

So try to be the first one up the mountain
And try to be the first to touch the sky
And don't let somebody tell you, you can't do it
And if they say that, show em it's a lie

And if you fail at first just keep on trying
'Cause you are not a failure in god's eyes
So spread your wings and let the magic happen
'Cause you'll never really know if you don't try

And the first step is the one that's always hardest
But you'll never really know if you don't try
You have to try

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton - Coat of many colors

Lyrics

Back through the years
I go wonderin' once again
Back to the seasons of my youth
I recall a box of rags that someone gave us
And how my momma put the rags to use
There were rags of many colors
Every piece was small
And I didn't have a coat
And it was way down in the fall
Momma sewed the rags together
Sewin' every piece with love
She made my coat of many colors
That I was so proud of

As she sewed, she told a story
From the Bible, she had read
About a coat of many colors
Joseph wore and then she said
Perhaps this coat will bring you
Good luck and happiness
And I just couldn't wait to wear it
And momma blessed it with a kiss

My coat of many colors
That my momma made for me
Made only from rags
But I wore it so proudly
Although we had no money
I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me

So with patches on my britches
And holes in both my shoes
In my coat of many colors
I hurried off to school
Just to find the others laughing
And making fun of me
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me

And oh, I couldn't understand it
For I felt I was rich
And I told 'em of the love
My momma sewed in every stitch
And I told 'em all the story
Momma told me while she sewed
And how my coat of many colors
Was worth more than all their clothes

But they didn't understand it
And I tried to make them see
That one is only poor
Only if they choose to be
Now I know we had no money
But I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me
Made just for me

:) BEAUTIFUL! :D

Freshness!

 

Goddess Laxmi! :)

 

Goddess Parvati!

 

Raag Bhup - Practice

Practice of Raag Bhup

SHEL - I Was Born A Dreamer (Official Video)

:) I was born a dreamer!

All dreams start out small
Sometimes you don't know they're there at all
But I lay awake wishing on the stars
All the while knowing in my heart

I was born a dreamer
A wide-eyed believer in things unseen
I was born a dreamer
Oh, say you believe in me

Doubt cuts deeper than fear
It'll scorn you 'til your hope disappears
Well, I fight against the things people say
And let the tears fall where they may

I was born a dreamer
A wide-eyed believer in things unseen
I was born a dreamer
Oh, say you believe in me

Who can tell the measure of our dreams
We may change the world if only we believe
With the unknown road underneath my feet
I leap behind my fears and find my destiny

I was born a dreamer
A wide-eyed believer in things unseen
I was born a dreamer
Oh, say you believe in me

Sooha Saaha Lyrical | Highway | Alia Bhatt, Randeep Hooda | Zeb Bangash...

Prettiness! 

Cuteness! :)

 

!

 some shows are a great example of how NOT to be!

Amitabh Bachchan's Favourite Poem - Jo Beet Gayi, so baat gayi. (English...

Missing my father! :)

Piku- Title song | Piku | Sunidhi Chauhan | Lyrics

Be my father please!

Amitabh Bachhan blog!

 https://srbachchan.tumblr.com/post/611962383244689408

There is this man! He is like my father, grandfather!

We celebrated He celebrated my victory! On His precious blog!

I miss him! so writing this today.

This link to the blog! Is how we spent almost 10 years together like 

a team! I respect him! I miss him! Most importantly! :)

This blog makes me go....BADUUUMMBAAAAAAAA.......

I miss him! :)

Love!

Monkeying Around! :)

Spirit (2002) - Spirit Grows Up Scene (1/10) | Movieclips

In the fond memories of a grandad's Tumblr blog!

It was quite a run! Almost 10 years!

Shall visit you soon! :)

Something special coming soon!

 

Ruskin Bond - The blue Umbrella :)

 

Aeroplane Buddy! :)

Parvati the elephant! Getting decorated!

 

This Cuteness! :)

 

Tis pretty pattern! :)

 

Beautiful!

 By Carrie Law Morgan Figgs (in 1921)

              1
A moment of pleasure,
    An hour of pain,
A day of sunshine,
    A week of rain,
A fortnight of peace,
  A month of strife,
These taken together
  Make up life. 

              2
One real friend
    To a dozen foes,
Two open gates,
  ’Giants twenty that’s closed,
Prosperity’s chair,
    Then adversity’s knife;
These my friends
    Make up life.

              3
At daybreak a blossom,
    At noontime a rose,
At twilight ’tis withered,
    At evening ’tis closed.
The din of confusion,
    The strain of the fife,
These with other things
    Make up life.

              4
A smile, then a tear,
    Like a mystic pearl,
A pause, then a rush
    Into the mad whirl,
A kiss, then a stab
  From a traitor’s knife;
I think that you’ll agree with me, 
    That this life.

Sky and the sea!