(no subject)
Perhaps I should call my entries 'Letters to Trish'. Because she - travelertrish always tells me 'Now put it on your blog!'. And this time, I succumbed :-)
Partly responsible was villager9999 who added me as his friend because he thought an Indian perspective on travel was interesting. Enough to make me feel guilty about my non contribution to my blog. So Scott, here is some virtual travel by me through India!
So Trish said - 'and in the meantime, you can tell me more about the (Dasara and attendant dolls) display.' and I said -
"Let me try.
Key words: Dussehra, Mysore Dasara, Navaratri, Rangoli
Celebrated for 10 days in September/October (Hindu calendar month of Ashwayuja/Ashwina so does not come on the same days of the Roman calendar every year) . Called Dussehra in North India, Dasara or Navaratri (nava = nine, ratri = nights) in the South. ( As a Nepali friend told me at Oslo, also the biggest Hindu festival of Nepal).
Basically, different mythological stories symbolising the victory of good over evil.
In the North, supposed to symbolise the vanquishing of the demon Ravana by the good king God Rama (from the Ramayana) . Also called Ramlila in the North, where stuffed figures of the ten headed demon Ravana are burnt.
In the South and in West Bengal, the demon changes identity. It is the vanquishing of the demon Mahishasura. (Mahisha =buffalo asura = demon) by the Goddess Durga (representing woman power). In West Bengal, larger than life clay models are made of the goddess Durga and installed in the pooja tents. The festival is celebrated as a public social event, with roadside tents, daily public poojas and food served to all visitors. On the last day, the idols are taken in a procession and immersed in a source of water.. sea/river/lake/pond.
In South India, generally celebrated as 'Goddess worship' (woman power) not as public a festival as in the North and East. The three Goddesses- Shakti (Durga) who represents strength and woman power, Lakshmi the Goddess of Wealth and Saraswathi, the Goddess of Learning and knowledge all worshipped on different days during the ten days (by men and women). On the eighth day (Saraswathi Puja - Goddess of Learning day) , all significant books in the house are worshipped. The 9th day is 'Ayudha Pooja’ (Ayudha = weapons Pooja = ritualistic Hindu worship) or worshipping all tools of the trade (all tools/implements kept in front of the ‘in house’ family shrine - often families have a dedicated room for everyday prayers called the pooja room, and not displaced till the next day .. nowadays we even keep laptops). All work is given a rest on that day as all the tools of the trade are being worshipped. (Also note that for skilled workers, their equipment is reconditioned prior to this in readiness for worship). The tenth day 'Vijaya Dasami' is one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar, for good beginnings. Traditionally used for starting school (reading writing), starting classical dance or music lessons, entering a new house, etc.
Now coming to the doll display, in the three South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, dolls are displayed in everybody's homes for these 10 days of Dasara. The dolls are placed in tiers, with odd number of steps (I dont know why) 3,5,7, etc.on the first day of Dasara. In Karnataka, as I said before, there is a mandatory pair of king and queen dolls made of a dark wood (chandana) and these are dressed up in new clothes every year..gold laced sarees, jewellery, crowns, etc., the dressing up varies with the inventiveness of the family. A silver pot filled with water and crowned with mango leaves (Kalasa) is placed next to them.
Beyond that, the display is left to the imagination of the home owners (there is even some unstated competition there). There can be traditional dolls (usually made of mud and painted) of umpteen mythological figures, modern arrangements such as a shop keeper with her goods, even little zoos made of sand on which seeds have been allowed to germinate to simulate grass with plastic animals in matchstick pens. No taboo on the material, it can be cloth, glass, ceramic, wood, from any state, any country, represent anything,etc. It can be bought, gifted or made at home. Some classic figurines are 'keelu kudure' ( keelu = spring, kudure = horse) a man and a woman wearing a shell that looks like the body of a horse), a Ramayana arrangment with Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman ( I am taking for granted that you know some Hindu mythology having lived in India for sometime..otherwise the story becomes too long). Freehand designs(called Rangoli) are made in front of the displays by drizzling a powder made from a soft white rock between the fingers. The designs are drawn afresh every day ( more space for creativity)(check out the photos of Rangoli at this interesting site that I found .. http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/rangoli/. Besides this, fresh flowers are also used to decorate the displays.
Every evening, women from the neighbourhood and relatives are invited to visit and the visitors are given glass bangles, haldi kumkum (the red and yellow pooja powders), flowers (usually strings of jasmine to wear in the hair), beetel leaves, coconuts and a piece of cloth big enough to make a saree blouse and a spicy boiled chick pea salad in a leaf cup when they leave. There is also singing of classical music at this time.
The dolls are taken down on the tenth day, lovingly wrapped in soft cloth and stored away till next year. Often they are heirlooms having been inherited over several generations.
Now the toughest part of your question..why? I dont know why. It is one of those time immemorial traditions that run in South Indian families. It is probably a women and young girls' festival to display their creativity and to socialize. Certainly helps to keep our cultural traditions such as rangoli and classical music live and everyday. Often I feel the Hindu festivals have a stronger 'socializing' element than a spiritual one. We have specified rituals, usually new clothes for all, specific dishes to be prepared for each festival, and always visits of friends and relatives. Dasara in particular, is enjoyed very much by little girls, who help to take the dolls out of storage, create the displays, dress up everyday in gold and silk to receive guests, etc. In three quarter male households like ours (with yours truly the only female) , it is not a big deal. (not helped these days by globalization!)
Come again next year to India for Dasara with JF .. one of the best times to visit India ..Oh, I forgot, in Gujarat (West India) it is ten days of group folk dance and music..with everybody from young to old to rich to poor participating...In Karnataka, Mysore Dasara is famous..procession of elephants, horses, tableaux, government officials dressed as courtiers, etc..a wishful harking back to our 'Maharajah' times!
Usha
Partly responsible was villager9999 who added me as his friend because he thought an Indian perspective on travel was interesting. Enough to make me feel guilty about my non contribution to my blog. So Scott, here is some virtual travel by me through India!
So Trish said - 'and in the meantime, you can tell me more about the (Dasara and attendant dolls) display.' and I said -
"Let me try.
Key words: Dussehra, Mysore Dasara, Navaratri, Rangoli
Celebrated for 10 days in September/October (Hindu calendar month of Ashwayuja/Ashwina so does not come on the same days of the Roman calendar every year) . Called Dussehra in North India, Dasara or Navaratri (nava = nine, ratri = nights) in the South. ( As a Nepali friend told me at Oslo, also the biggest Hindu festival of Nepal).
Basically, different mythological stories symbolising the victory of good over evil.
In the North, supposed to symbolise the vanquishing of the demon Ravana by the good king God Rama (from the Ramayana) . Also called Ramlila in the North, where stuffed figures of the ten headed demon Ravana are burnt.
In the South and in West Bengal, the demon changes identity. It is the vanquishing of the demon Mahishasura. (Mahisha =buffalo asura = demon) by the Goddess Durga (representing woman power). In West Bengal, larger than life clay models are made of the goddess Durga and installed in the pooja tents. The festival is celebrated as a public social event, with roadside tents, daily public poojas and food served to all visitors. On the last day, the idols are taken in a procession and immersed in a source of water.. sea/river/lake/pond.
In South India, generally celebrated as 'Goddess worship' (woman power) not as public a festival as in the North and East. The three Goddesses- Shakti (Durga) who represents strength and woman power, Lakshmi the Goddess of Wealth and Saraswathi, the Goddess of Learning and knowledge all worshipped on different days during the ten days (by men and women). On the eighth day (Saraswathi Puja - Goddess of Learning day) , all significant books in the house are worshipped. The 9th day is 'Ayudha Pooja’ (Ayudha = weapons Pooja = ritualistic Hindu worship) or worshipping all tools of the trade (all tools/implements kept in front of the ‘in house’ family shrine - often families have a dedicated room for everyday prayers called the pooja room, and not displaced till the next day .. nowadays we even keep laptops). All work is given a rest on that day as all the tools of the trade are being worshipped. (Also note that for skilled workers, their equipment is reconditioned prior to this in readiness for worship). The tenth day 'Vijaya Dasami' is one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar, for good beginnings. Traditionally used for starting school (reading writing), starting classical dance or music lessons, entering a new house, etc.
Now coming to the doll display, in the three South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, dolls are displayed in everybody's homes for these 10 days of Dasara. The dolls are placed in tiers, with odd number of steps (I dont know why) 3,5,7, etc.on the first day of Dasara. In Karnataka, as I said before, there is a mandatory pair of king and queen dolls made of a dark wood (chandana) and these are dressed up in new clothes every year..gold laced sarees, jewellery, crowns, etc., the dressing up varies with the inventiveness of the family. A silver pot filled with water and crowned with mango leaves (Kalasa) is placed next to them.
Beyond that, the display is left to the imagination of the home owners (there is even some unstated competition there). There can be traditional dolls (usually made of mud and painted) of umpteen mythological figures, modern arrangements such as a shop keeper with her goods, even little zoos made of sand on which seeds have been allowed to germinate to simulate grass with plastic animals in matchstick pens. No taboo on the material, it can be cloth, glass, ceramic, wood, from any state, any country, represent anything,etc. It can be bought, gifted or made at home. Some classic figurines are 'keelu kudure' ( keelu = spring, kudure = horse) a man and a woman wearing a shell that looks like the body of a horse), a Ramayana arrangment with Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman ( I am taking for granted that you know some Hindu mythology having lived in India for sometime..otherwise the story becomes too long). Freehand designs(called Rangoli) are made in front of the displays by drizzling a powder made from a soft white rock between the fingers. The designs are drawn afresh every day ( more space for creativity)(check out the photos of Rangoli at this interesting site that I found .. http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/rangoli/. Besides this, fresh flowers are also used to decorate the displays.
Every evening, women from the neighbourhood and relatives are invited to visit and the visitors are given glass bangles, haldi kumkum (the red and yellow pooja powders), flowers (usually strings of jasmine to wear in the hair), beetel leaves, coconuts and a piece of cloth big enough to make a saree blouse and a spicy boiled chick pea salad in a leaf cup when they leave. There is also singing of classical music at this time.
The dolls are taken down on the tenth day, lovingly wrapped in soft cloth and stored away till next year. Often they are heirlooms having been inherited over several generations.
Now the toughest part of your question..why? I dont know why. It is one of those time immemorial traditions that run in South Indian families. It is probably a women and young girls' festival to display their creativity and to socialize. Certainly helps to keep our cultural traditions such as rangoli and classical music live and everyday. Often I feel the Hindu festivals have a stronger 'socializing' element than a spiritual one. We have specified rituals, usually new clothes for all, specific dishes to be prepared for each festival, and always visits of friends and relatives. Dasara in particular, is enjoyed very much by little girls, who help to take the dolls out of storage, create the displays, dress up everyday in gold and silk to receive guests, etc. In three quarter male households like ours (with yours truly the only female) , it is not a big deal. (not helped these days by globalization!)
Come again next year to India for Dasara with JF .. one of the best times to visit India ..Oh, I forgot, in Gujarat (West India) it is ten days of group folk dance and music..with everybody from young to old to rich to poor participating...In Karnataka, Mysore Dasara is famous..procession of elephants, horses, tableaux, government officials dressed as courtiers, etc..a wishful harking back to our 'Maharajah' times!
Usha