Dasara Bobme Habba at Home

Navratri has started, the 10 day long festival, celebrating the victory of goddess durga over Mahishasura, victory of goodness over evil. The Mysore Dasara, where goddess Durga/Chamundeshwari's victory is celebrated by 10 day long special durbar at Mysore Palace and the festival ends with the grand procession of Mysore Dasara, the Jambu Savari on Vijay Dashami, the 10th day of Navtratri, with the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari been carried by an elephant in a golden howdah. 

It was years back during the rule of Mysore Maharaja(King), when it was so called the golden era, when every citizen of the kingdom lead a prosperous life. While Maharaja celebrated Dasara with the 10 day special durbar and the Jambu Savari(when the king himself used to sit in the golden hawda for Jambu Savari), people of the kingdom, had a virtual durbar of the king and showcased the prosperous life lead by them through the clay models at their homes. The pattad bobme, the wooden dolls represented the king and queen. The festival turned to be a Naada Habba(state festival), irrespective of the caste and religion, everybody celebrated Navratri arranging dolls.
Here is how we are celebrating Navratri this year, by arranging dolls at home.

Main steps

Ganapati and SeethaRamanjaneya in First row, second row Krishna in different forms(Gopala, Makhan chor, kalinga mardan), pattad bombe and other gods. These dolls excluding ganapati and pattada bobme are almost 50years old, which I repainted.

The last row, these too are almost 50years old, repainted(excluding the gujarati groom)

Andal, Meera, Shivaji Maharaj, a saint and Sai Baba

Tulsi Pooja doll set

Shetty and his wife with their shop, selling grocery and Jewelry. The brass and copper utensils are from Mathura, there are also mini perfume bottles behind

A Miniature painting on Marble from Jaipur

Kailas Parbat, with a water fall and village scene. The water fall actually works

A miniature garden in a basket, with souvenirs, wind mill from Netherlands, country house from UK, Eiffel tower from France and a camel from Dubai

These cute dolls are 20years old from my treasure of miniature collection

More souvenirs from my collection, cow bell from Switzerland, Milan Cathedral snow ball from Milano, Italy, behind that is sydney Harbour bridge(its a 3-D puzzle by Franks), an Egyptian king souvenir from Egypt, Lucky Leprechaun from Ireland, Petronas Tower from Malaysia, Funny Sheep from Ireland, Ashoka Pillar from Delhi, Burj Al Arab from Dubai, Merlion from Singapore, Taj Mahal from Agra, Fridge magnet from London and a scaled Emirates A380 from Dubai

A petrol station scene

And a service station

And my daughter's doll house

Wishing you all Prosperous Navratri, May Goddess Chamundeshwari bless you all with happiness and prosperity

HAPPY NAVRATRI!!!

Navratri Dolls for sale in Mumbai

Its that time of the year, my whole family eagerly wait for, that's Navratri. Navratri starts from 25th Sept, this year. Just two days left and am lagging with my preparation for the bombe arrangement at home. Hubby has lot of plans for this year's arrangement. Will post my bombe pics by this weekend, once the festival starts and we are done with our doll set up. 

Meanwhile, here is a peak to the dolls sold here in Mumbai for Navratri. Matunga is know to be the mini South India of Mumbai. Be it the flower shops or the banana shops inside the market, or the Udupi Shri Krishna Hotel and the Mysore Silk Saree Showrooms, the place has every thing a south Indian looks for.  So this is the place where you can expect the navratri dolls too. Giri stores in Matunga have navratri dolls for sale. They also have the Golu padi(the stand to arrange dolls), decorative items, sarees, girls traditional frocks(reshme langa/pattu pavadai). They have a huge collection, here are few of them,

Seetha Ramanjaneya set

Vasthu Lakshmi Set

Maya Bazaar

Govardhan giri set

Water tap with ladies

A classroom scene dolls set

Ladies Music set

Here is their contact detail http://giri.in/contact.asp They have their stores in Bangalore and New Delhi as well. You can check with them if they have Navratri dolls.

Here are some useful links to, Naivedyam and colours for nine days during Navratri.

Ticket Cancellation with Red Bus

I travel almost 2 to 3 times a year to my native. Most of the time its only me and my 5yr old daughter. So prefer Volvo bus to train, mainly because of journey time and availability. Off course most of my bookings are at nth moment, when I can't expect a train ticket. Even if I go for tatkal, the journey time sucks me, while my bus takes around 15hours, train almost 21hours. Though in both cases, I need to travel an hour journey by road then after. As there is only one train a week, which connects to my place.

Till last few months, the only option we had were two Volvo semi sleeper buses. But now we have one sleeper a day. After getting used to of sleeper, it becomes really difficult to go for semi sleeper, especially when you have to handle your kid, all alone.
Few months back I had booked a ticket with Red Bus for sleeper coach. During peak season, its the issue with most bus operators to change their bus schedule. They changed their sleeper coach bus to semi sleeper. Informed us, the difference amount would be refunded to me on-board, only if I travelled. As I said, it really becomes difficult to travel in semi sleeper with my kid, I wanted to reschedule my trip for a day to get a sleeper, as I didn't have hurry to travel. 

Only option given by Red Bus was to cancel my present ticket, under standard cancellation terms and book new ticket. They assured of getting the entire amount back from bus operator. Now, they have refunded me the cancellation charges, and to compensate and keep up their service, they have given me an additional 10% discount for my next travel. I really appreciate their way of handling their customers and looking forward for their continued service. Hoping bus operators to be more professional and traveling in India would be more easier and comfortable.

Skywatch Friday - Mumbai in Monsoon

Its fun sometimes to just hit the road in rains to explore the heritage city. This is what we did few weeks back and here are few of the clicks of Mumbai in this monsoon, 

Drive through the Eastern Express Highway

The Heritage CST

Elphinstone College against rain drops

The Gate Way of India

The magical marine drive

Waves, crabs n the tetrapods of marine drive

NGMA against dense clouds

And the floods of Mumbai, water up-to knee level.

Lotus Temple, Delhi

"This is the most beautiful structures of all the lotus shaped buildings in the world"

This is what our guide told us, while introducing us to Baha'i faith and Baha'i temple, well known as Lotus temple, at Delhi.

The front view, from the garden

With few of my cousins practicing yoga and meditation, I knew a pyramidal structure always spreads positive energy. The pointed top attracted the energy. Hence, a person sitting inside a pyramid is supposed to feel relaxed and meditating at such a place would be easier. And Lotus is considered to be one of the sacred flowers, the flower, which retains its purity, by staying untouched to the impure water, where it grows, which teaches us to stay disconnected from the outer world.

Temple, with its reflection on one of the nine ponds surrounding the temple

We were dropped by our HOHO bus, at the main entrance of the Baha'i Temple, which is almost half a kilometer walk to the temple. You go through security check in, where perishables and food items are strictly discarded. After walking half way through lush green garden, there is cabin to deposit your footwear and head to the main temple.

The structure is composed of 27 free standing marble clad "petals" arranged in clusters of three to form nine sides. The nine doors of the temple open onto a central hall, capable of holding up to, 2500 people. Its said to be made of white marble from Penteli mountain in Greece, the same from which other Baha'i houses of Worships are built. There are nine ponds surrounding the temple.

The pathway, with lush green garden on both sides

Tourists are allowed inside the temple in batches, after a brief introduction to Baha'i faith and the architecture. There are benches inside to sit and meditate. There is no restricted time to sit in the meditation center, as long as you don't disturb others. As soon as I entered, I could feel that positive vib. Sat for few minutes, only to be disturbed by my daughter, who wanted to go out, not able to sit quite.

Travel Info:

Lotus Temple is near Kalkaji Temple, east of Nehru place, Delhi

Entry free

Open Tuesday to Sunday(closed on Mondays)

Timings: 

Summer: 9AM to 7PM

Winter: 9AM to 5:30PM

Nearest metro station is Kalkaji Mandir

You can visit their website http://www.bahaihouseofworship.in to understand Baha'i Faith and other Baha'i houses of worship across the world.

Related Posts: Check out the complete series on Golden Triangle Tour. 

Ganapati Idols from across Mumbai

To start with this year's Gapanati pandals, here is the first one from my housing society,

 

Ganapati from GSB Seva Mandal, King's Circle, the richest insured Ganapati of Mumbai, insured for Rs. 50 Crore rupees per day. Also on Diamond Jubliee celebration of GSB Mandal, the idol has 14ft tall, Vyjayanthimala Garland made of small and big Ganapati idols carved of gold and silver, worth around 96 lakh rupees.

GSB Seva Mandal

More idols from across Mumbai,

Church Gate

Hiranandani, Powai

Lower Parel

Eden Woods, Thane

Eden Woods, Thane

Hiranandani Estate, Thane

Will update as I visit more in coming days

Updated on 8th Sept, 2014:

Here is another Ganapati from my neighbour's place, with Antarctica background. Every year they buy their Ganapati from Dadar and uncle says, Dadar market has the beautiful Ganapatis in the city and stand out from others,

 

And this wall hanging waterfall in their house always attracts me, which they have customized with an idol of Ganapati,

 

 And few toys which attract my little one,

 

To end with this year's Ganesha Festival is this song by Shankar Mahadevan and my favorite, the song which is played in every pandal and FM radio channel during this festival week.