NavarAthri celebration and our memories

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 25 Sep 2009, 19:23

Cienu - a priceless image. Thanks a ton for sharing.

shriranjani wrote:All of us have 'pattada gombe'-(traditional Mr.& Mrs)given at the time of marriage-I have a cute pair in ivory & another made of compressed wood dust which is more than a 100 yrs old.

For us (North Arcot) this is the marapAcci bommai couple (mentioned by Chembai) that is a part of the 'viLaiyADal sAmAn' (I think). The size and weight of these has undergone a sea of change. My grandmother had a couple that weighed a ton, my mother's are not as big, but the ones I saw recently were absolutely tiny!! These marapAcci bommais are usually placed on the first step, along with the maLigai kaDai and all those wax fruits!

BTW, are marapAcci and compressed wood dust the same?

Ganesh - very nice pictures...

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 25 Sep 2009, 19:37

marappAcchi bommais are very traditional and will be found in all kolus.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 25 Sep 2009, 19:47

Normally a 'chettiar couple'- is placed alongwith the maligai kaDai.
marappAchibommais are amust for the golu; even if we do not keep a big golu, we atleast keep the 'marappAchi pair' in the swAmi maNDapam.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 25 Sep 2009, 21:51

Punarvasu and Ganesh

Wonderful Golu arrangements.

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 25 Sep 2009, 22:00

Does anybody know why a few dolls are allowed to rest on the last day of the kolu? I mean, people tilt some dolls so that they lie down, isn't it? Why?

smala · Post by **smala** » 25 Sep 2009, 22:02

Thanks to Mohan Punarvasu and Ganesh for the lovely koLU pictures.

In Ganesh's kutcheribuzz series of koLu pics - all make really nice viewing, some with a little temple and its striped compound walls, number 10 is HUGE - 14 steps?... with a lovely maami in madisArai - great collection

MSS Ammal in her stance and look (Cienu's picture) speaks volumes.

On the marapAchi bommai ....http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/09/marap ... uring.html

smala · Post by **smala** » 25 Sep 2009, 22:46

srinivasrgvn wrote:Does anybody know why a few dolls are allowed to rest on the last day of the kolu? I mean, people tilt some dolls so that they lie down, isn't it? Why?

It is a symbolic act - getting (some) of the deities, dolls to take their rest till they are awakened the next year - signifying the end of the celebrations.

smala · Post by **smala** » 25 Sep 2009, 22:51

Vidya Raja wrote:Heres is the link to a very well written blog ...

http://maami.wordpress.com/

Truly enjoyable. In three parts - thanks for the find.

I especially liked the line from Bengali Goddess on the stomach upset caused by poorly made sundal......

"Ish, paeter gash hoyechelo na ki?"

shriranjani · Post by **shriranjani** » 25 Sep 2009, 23:15

BTW, are marapAcci and compressed wood dust the same?

No-MarapAcci bommais are made of generally rosewood.Wood dust compressed dolls are different-they have proper painted faces and seem to look like clay dolls-but are very light.For us ,the couple-either wood,sandalwood or ivory & a kalasham are mandatory.Everything else is optional.

shyama-priyawrote: women-folk of previous generations who processed, cooked and fed round the clock used their spare time to draw, create beautiful artistic things to add each year to the Kolu.....

Here I would like to add that my grandmother made very beautiful,delicate cane artifacts-cradles,baskets,trays(v.tiny),besides bead covered four-posters,chairs etc for the doll's house.My grandaunt made a lovely charriot drawn by horses with Arjuna & Krishna-The ladies vied with each other to put up their creative best,despite tending to large families,with minimum kitchen aids!!Wonder where they got so much energy from!!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 26 Sep 2009, 00:23

srkris wrote:...In one house I have seen a Mary with a baby Jesus in her arms too.

Not to mention full cricket teams, and even performing rock bands!

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 26 Sep 2009, 00:46

nick H wrote:
srkris wrote:...In one house I have seen a Mary with a baby Jesus in her arms too.
Not to mention full cricket teams, and even performing rock bands!

Nativity scene dolls can also be seen

veeyens · Post by **veeyens** » 26 Sep 2009, 17:53

I think the "Marapachi bommais" are made of red sander which are available in Chittoor Dt. of Tamil Nad.
veeyens

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 26 Sep 2009, 22:19

All school going kids must be feeling a sigh of relief when their books are kept for saraswathi pooja and they do not have to look at for one full day and two full nights.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 26 Sep 2009, 23:11

Vidya Raja,
Thank you for introducing me to maami. Her kolu was 'amarkaLam' (fantastic) and her writing is wonderful!

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 27 Sep 2009, 04:46

What are the special slokams chanted on Saraswati Puja and Vijaya Dasami days and their significance?

veeyens · Post by **veeyens** » 27 Sep 2009, 19:35

All these celebrations and festivals are not an end in them selves but only means to ensure that all corners in our personalities are rounded off and all kinks straitend to make for a peaceful happy contended coexistence with the surroundings. Seeing how things are shaping, I am led to believe that the ideas of our ancestors have borne fruit

veeyens · Post by **veeyens** » 27 Sep 2009, 19:41

One aspect of Vijaydasami is "Ayuda Puja" This is the forerunner of the modern day concept of "Preventive maintenance" adapted in big workshops and manufacturing units to ensure all machinery, tools and plants are in top condition to ensure uninterrupted production

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 27 Sep 2009, 21:24

Watch this video and enjoy navarathri kolu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdGpq817KVk

veeyens · Post by **veeyens** » 28 Sep 2009, 04:29

http://picasaweb.google.com/veeyens/Tab ... rectlinkIf you access this site,you can see the photo of a (working ) table top model of Niagra Falls, made by me in 2007 for my daughter's Golu in Albany Ny. It was made with the standard aluminium snack trays used in restaurants. The cover was cut to the horse shoe shape, covered with old "veshti" dipped in plaster f paris mix, suitably shaped and when dry ,spray painted in suitable colours. A small aquarium pump was kept under the far end to pump back the water. The only draw back was, since the drop was just three inches, it did not develop much bubble like wwatersurface. I tried to add realism by embedding some recorded sound but I failed miserably. I would like both bocquets and brick bats. may Sri Rama bleess you all

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 28 Sep 2009, 08:27

Veeyens - A good bold attempt to build miniature Niagra falls. I like it.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 28 Sep 2009, 11:25

veeyens-it is very beautiful.
Yes , I remeber the time when we were young and you used to build mountains and tunnels and water falls and we had the miniature train with the tracks and everything and how people used to throng to our house to see what you have done for each year. Appa it is really great that you have kept up the interest.
(Fellow forumites, veeyens is my father-

)

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 28 Sep 2009, 12:25

Shri veeyens
I recollect your daughter said somewhere that you are 89 years old. YOu are now the grand old man of this forum. Warm Welcome Sir. Is the Niagara falls from the side facing newyork or the side facing canada. Not seen from the canada side , I am told that is more beautiful.
Have a great time here Sir!!!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 28 Sep 2009, 16:07

That is wonderful!

This Niagra falls is the best thing in my day so far. Thank you

veeyens · Post by **veeyens** » 28 Sep 2009, 18:49

Sri Rajesh, It is supposed to represent the view from U.S if yu look from top and from Canada if you look from the bottom. As you have mentioned it is more majestic and awe inspiring (at least to me0 from Canadian Side.V

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 28 Sep 2009, 19:35

veeyens,
Welcome to the forum! We know your daughter and we now know where part of her personality comes from! Your Niagra is impressive. I only wish the photograph showed more of your handiwork by framing the falls to highlight all the handiwork which has gone into it.

Rajesh,
I think veeyens is a few years younger than you think. Very young, considering the way his creative mind works--inspiration to us, the 'young' ones

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 28 Sep 2009, 21:15

Punarvasu - your indeed a proud and blessed son!

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 28 Sep 2009, 21:19

VKR-THANKS-a minor correction- I am a proud and blessed daughter.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 28 Sep 2009, 21:43

I apologize. What was I thinking even after reading arasi's note?

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 29 Sep 2009, 11:32

Welcome Punarvasu's Dad! The Niagara Falls model is awesome!

ramakriya · Post by **ramakriya** » 01 Oct 2009, 11:29

Here is a glimpse of Navaratri celebration at our home:

Bombe Habba 2009 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX6QwUhtza8

-Ramakriya

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 01 Oct 2009, 19:10

ramakriya,
very nice 'golu'. The background music is very good.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Oct 2009, 19:32

Ramakriya,
Great gombe habba (bommai paNDgai-dolls festival). A feast to the eyes and pleasing music to go with. Is that you, your wife, children and mother in the pictures? Thought I was going to hear nAsamaNi!
About marappAcci bommai--interesting how every region made them with different woods (dependent on what trees grew near them)--teak here? Of course, they also collected them from wherever they journeyed to--Tiruppati ones were the red kind.
Very pleasing kolu and family too!

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 01 Oct 2009, 22:14

I learnt a new word gombe habba. Ramakriya, thanks for sharing the pictures.

ramakriya · Post by **ramakriya** » 01 Oct 2009, 22:19

Thank you Punarvasu.

Arasi, Yes, it's my family - wife, kids and mother-in-law in the pictures.

As far as the paTTada bombe ( mara pachi) I'm not sure where these were made. I have heard that Tirupati was considered a place where they'd be bought from. It is said they are made of chandana wood (probably Pterocarpus santalinus, not Santalum album, the true sandalwood). Teakwood? may be - but doesn't teak little more redder in hue?

-Ramakriya

ramakriya · Post by **ramakriya** » 01 Oct 2009, 22:20

VK RAMAN wrote:I learnt a new word gombe habba. Ramakriya, thanks for sharing the pictures.

gombe/ bombe in kannaDa= bommai = doll

habba in kannaDa = festival = pandigai

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 02 Oct 2009, 01:30

Mahogany perhaps? Teak is not red like the wood from which tirupathi dolls are fashioned.

veeyens · Post by **veeyens** » 02 Oct 2009, 17:26

As I have already mentioned, the "Marapachis" are made of "red Sanders" which is being smuggled in larege quantities to Japan, yes for making dolls! They are grown in forests in chittor dt. near Tirupathi.

veeyens · Post by **veeyens** » 02 Oct 2009, 17:34

I forgot to add the latin name for red sanders. It is"Lignum Pterocarpi"