Events Around...

Last week I visited Panjim and here are some of the events advertised outside the Goa art centre that caught my eye.

Do check these out if you can!

Exhibition of paintings of artist Mohan Naik at Carpe Diem, Majorda

Lusofonia festival at Clube Vasco-da-Gama

All things related to Christmas!

Some of the key decorations during Christmas are: Snowman, Christmas tree and the crib.

This 'cool' snowman is made of plastic cups. Look closely! It is kept near the crib placed infront of 'Pando' (Pandva) chapel in Aquem.

The decorated Christmas tree at Luven's house

Crib 

The guiding star

Crib spotting in Margao!

Best wishes to all my blog readers for a Wonderful New year 2016!!

Last week, we went around Margao and visited some beautiful cribs depicting the nativity scenes. It was indeed a pleasure to watch the visual depiction of the story of Jesus Christ’s birth, displayed creatively in various styles by different groups.

St. Anthony Boys of Agalli always make a wonderful theme based setting for Christmas, amidst farms in Agalli, here is a glimpse:

A glimpse of the crib setting made by Angel Boys of Gogol:

Beautiful crib made by Luven and Stezia at their house:

Festive fervor in Powai!

Soon after Christmas, this December, I visited Powai and was indeed highly impressed with the decorations done in Hiranandani Estate. Take a peek…

The streets decorated in varied hues !                           Image courtesy: Bhushan

 

Sweet trees at Hotel Meluha

Ginger bread houses at Hotel Meluha

Decoration at the Mumbai airport

Christmas facts!

Did you know # 11

The Christmas season has set in and we look forward towards celebrating this festival of joy and celebration on December 25.

Here are some enlightening facts related to Christmas:

1)     Thomas Nast was the cartoonist who created the traditional image of Santa Claus.

2)     There are nine reindeer's in the sleigh of Santa Claus.

3)     Santa Claus is associated with Saint Nicholas of Myra. The birthplace of this saint is Demra in Lycia, a part of modern Turkey.

4)     There is a placed called ‘Christmas’ in Orange county in USA.

5)     There is an island in the Indian Ocean, called Christmas Island.

6)     The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico (its original birthplace) it is known as the ‘Flower of the Holy Night’

The 'traditional' Christmas flowers

7)     In France, Christmas is called ‘Noel’

8)     The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531

9)     In 1937, the first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria

10)Hallmark introduced its first Christmas cards in 1915, five years after the company was founded.

11)The popular Christmas song ‘Jingle Bells’ was composed in 1857 by James Pierpoint and was originally called ‘One-Horse Open Sleigh.

Pandal hopping during Ganesh Chaturthi!

The festival season has set in!

Last week, on September 17, we celebrated the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi in honor of Lord Ganesh, the dispeller of all obstacles. This famous festival is celebrated with great fervor, especially in the states of Goa and Maharashtra.

Lord Ganesha's puja at my place


At many places, ‘Sarvajanik Ganesh murtis (idols) are placed, which are beautifully decorated by highly artistic and creative enthusiasts!

Every year during this festival I love to visit these places, ‘pandal’ hopping. Pandal is the place where the Sarvajanik Ganesh idol is placed and the premises (sometimes temple premises) are decorated beautifully too. 

Ganesh puja at my parents place

Lord Ganesha is worshipped in many households and pandals, either for 1.5 days or 3 days or 5 days or 21 days. During this festival season, it inevitably rains in Goa. Once the Lord is immersed in the waters (Visarjan) it marks the end of the rainy season in Goa.

Here is a glimpse of the famous Ganesh pandals in Margao, in the state of Goa.

The majestic Lord Ganesh at Pipalkatta temple, Margao

Lord Vinayaka being worshipped at the Municipal Garden, Margoa

Bhagwan Vakratunda's abode at Police station premises in Margao

Aarti for the Lord, at Vidyanagar

I especially love visiting the pandal at Aquem, as they always have a theme based animated display of a legendary story. This time they have depicted Sant Gorakumbhar, a potter by trade who was a devotee of  Lord Vithal. As per the legend whilst, Sant Gorakumbhar was making clay pots, Lord Vithoba appeared before him and helped him by making many clay pots. In this setting, upon dropping a coin in the box, the door to the temple of Lord Vithal opens and the many clay pots surface up….

 

The radiant 'Lord Vakratund' at Aquem

Sant Gorakumbhar making clay pots

The doors of the temple open...

The 'Lord Vithal' appears before the devotee...

May the Lord Ganesha shower his blessings on all!