Snow Globes

Hola dear friends! We just wrapped up our festive season with Karthigai deepam. 

A small light up near our Swami mandapam

And lighting lamps outside our house

And now it's time to deck up for the holiday season. I just love snow globes and isn't this the perfect time to bring them all out

That's from Singapore

I bought this cute little girlie snow globe during our trip to Pondy this sumer

This is from my 2011 trip to London

And this during our trip last May. I know for sure that this collection is going to grow :)

A cute little snow man from Miniso

And my December ornaments are out too. I have to also complete the gingerbread family

I saw this beautiful hand embroidered mirror frame at a shop last week and had to share the picture here. How intricate and beautifully done it is

Here's a picture of progress on Mystery project dear friends. I am getting totally excited as it shapes up

So, that's the update from this end of the world dear friends. Till next time.. take care.. be happy.. keep stitching.. Au Revoir!!

Festival Season

Come August and all our favorite festivals begin.. Navrathri is the first biggest festival

Navrathri, literally translated as 9 nights, is a festival of the Goddess. Though Navrathri is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India, the basic belief is that the Goddess killed Mahishasura. This also symbolises that we kill the demon within by invoking the Goddess

In TamilNadu, the first 3 days we worship Goddess Durga - who symbolises Shakti (power); next 3 days we invoke Goddess Lakshmi - who symbolises prosperity; the last 3 days we invoke Goddess Saraswathi - who symbolises intellect/wisdom.

Many people setup a Golu, which is setting up dolls of Gods and Goddesses. This was our simple 5 step Golu this year

The Golu signifies human evolution. Fruits, vegetables are kept in the lowest level; then lower forms of insect and animals; then saints and other great human beings like Buddha; then the various incarnations of the divine

The above explain the spiritual significance very briefly. The other aspects of Navrathri include inviting women and girls over and honour them with small gifts and sweets. Slokas are chanted and devotional songs sung in the evenings in front of the Golu.
As the whole festival is about celebrating the Goddess, Navrathri is considered as the true celebration of women in India

Gearing up for Diwali next :)

That's the story tonight dear friends. Till next time.. Take Care.. Be happy.. Craft about.. Au Revoir