She bought a new purse. Hidesign.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Getting ready to go to NYC
Grandma Kathi has been getting ready to go back to US.
She bought a new purse. Hidesign.
She bought a new purse. Hidesign.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Henna
Grandma Kathi had henna design put around her ankles.
She let me put it on my ankles too. What do you think Jenni?
It's not permanent it will wear off in just a few weeks.
In February 2009, Grandma Kathi got to go to a mehandi party before Dipani's wedding.
You can read about the Mehndi Party and the Wedding.
So, what exactly is mehndi?
The art of mehndi (or mehandi) has been a long-standing tradition stemming from many ancient cultures dating back as far as about 5,000 years, but is most known today for its history in India. Today, it is still used in religious and ritualistic ceremonies in India, but has also gained appreciation in other countries as a beautiful art to be appreciated at any time.
Mehndi is a temporary art done on the body with henna. Henna powder is derived from a plant (actually a bush), Lawsonia inermis, commonly found in the Middle East and other areas where the climate is hot and dry. The bush is harvested, dried, and then crushed to make henna powder. Henna itself is used for many things such as hair treatment, heat rash relief, and skin conditioner to name a few. The top leaves of the plant are best for mehndi, while the lower part of the plant is used for the other purposes. Henna paste is what is made to apply henna art designs.
Henna powder itself is green in color, but the stain it leaves behind is usually an orange-red color. There are many suppliers now that offer henna in a variety of colors but these are not recommended. Pure henna has had little to no incident of allergic reaction. When colors are added to natural henna, reactions can be mild to severe. Black henna especially has been known to cause serious skin burns as a result of the chemicals added to it to produce the black color effect. Henna is best to be appreciated in its purest form.
Most who are familiar with henna have seen the traditional designs. These beautifully intricate patterns are similar to those used for the marriage ceremonies and other rituals. They usually adorn the hands and feet of the wearer, and require that they remain still for many hours to apply the paste and then allow it to dry. Henna color has been known to take best to the hands and feet due to their dry properties which soak up and hold the color better, but henna can be applied anywhere. How well your skin takes to the henna will depend on each individual's skin properties.
Today, henna has been done in many forms including more contemporary designs. Some contemplating a permanent tattoo might apply henna first to see if they like the look before making a permanent decision. Some just enjoy having a temporary design they know will wash off in a few weeks. Whatever your reasons might be for being interested in henna, you are delving into a beautiful form of art rich in culture.
She let me put it on my ankles too. What do you think Jenni?
It's not permanent it will wear off in just a few weeks.
In February 2009, Grandma Kathi got to go to a mehandi party before Dipani's wedding.
You can read about the Mehndi Party and the Wedding.
So, what exactly is mehndi?
The art of mehndi (or mehandi) has been a long-standing tradition stemming from many ancient cultures dating back as far as about 5,000 years, but is most known today for its history in India. Today, it is still used in religious and ritualistic ceremonies in India, but has also gained appreciation in other countries as a beautiful art to be appreciated at any time.
Mehndi is a temporary art done on the body with henna. Henna powder is derived from a plant (actually a bush), Lawsonia inermis, commonly found in the Middle East and other areas where the climate is hot and dry. The bush is harvested, dried, and then crushed to make henna powder. Henna itself is used for many things such as hair treatment, heat rash relief, and skin conditioner to name a few. The top leaves of the plant are best for mehndi, while the lower part of the plant is used for the other purposes. Henna paste is what is made to apply henna art designs.
Henna powder itself is green in color, but the stain it leaves behind is usually an orange-red color. There are many suppliers now that offer henna in a variety of colors but these are not recommended. Pure henna has had little to no incident of allergic reaction. When colors are added to natural henna, reactions can be mild to severe. Black henna especially has been known to cause serious skin burns as a result of the chemicals added to it to produce the black color effect. Henna is best to be appreciated in its purest form.
Most who are familiar with henna have seen the traditional designs. These beautifully intricate patterns are similar to those used for the marriage ceremonies and other rituals. They usually adorn the hands and feet of the wearer, and require that they remain still for many hours to apply the paste and then allow it to dry. Henna color has been known to take best to the hands and feet due to their dry properties which soak up and hold the color better, but henna can be applied anywhere. How well your skin takes to the henna will depend on each individual's skin properties.
Today, henna has been done in many forms including more contemporary designs. Some contemplating a permanent tattoo might apply henna first to see if they like the look before making a permanent decision. Some just enjoy having a temporary design they know will wash off in a few weeks. Whatever your reasons might be for being interested in henna, you are delving into a beautiful form of art rich in culture.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
The Hijras of India
These Hijras came to Grandma Kathi's office. She has never met a Hijra, so she got to get her picture taken with them.
The hijras appear at weddings and at the births of sons to bless the family with luck and fertility in exchange for gifts and money.
Hindu society incorporates the hijras as “a measure of power and requires (or at least accepts) their presence on auspicious occasions.”
The hijras not only identify with the Mother Goddess and Shiva through their ambiguous natures but are actually believed to embody their powers.
In Hindu mythology, ritual, and art, androgynous figures are frequent and significant themes. “Hinduism in general holds that all persons contain within themselves both male and female principles.
The hijras appear at weddings and at the births of sons to bless the family with luck and fertility in exchange for gifts and money.
Hindu society incorporates the hijras as “a measure of power and requires (or at least accepts) their presence on auspicious occasions.”
The hijras not only identify with the Mother Goddess and Shiva through their ambiguous natures but are actually believed to embody their powers.
In Hindu mythology, ritual, and art, androgynous figures are frequent and significant themes. “Hinduism in general holds that all persons contain within themselves both male and female principles.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Heading back to USA
Grandma Kathi and Grandpa Bob have purchased their tickets to USA. They are going to spend a week in NYC. I am thinking about going home with them on the plane. All I need is permission from Jenni.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Holi Festival
SanJay is the man that comes up and gets the trash. He was the first one that I saw with the Holi Festival powder on him, it was in his hair and on his back. He rubbed some on my face. I watched over Grandma Kathi's balcony. There were people throwing this powder all over each other. The 2 little boys and 1 little girl from downstairs, played in the water and the colors all morning.
Then at 5:00 pm we went to Ben's and he had powder all over his face. So Grandma Kathi said that I could have the Holi powder thrown on me.
It was so much fun getting the powder thrown all over me.
I am so glad that I got to enjoy this Holi Festival.
Then at 5:00 pm we went to Ben's and he had powder all over his face. So Grandma Kathi said that I could have the Holi powder thrown on me.
It was so much fun getting the powder thrown all over me.
I am so glad that I got to enjoy this Holi Festival.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Dinner Party
Grandma Kathi and Grandpa Bob has invited some friends over for dinner. So we went to find a couple of chickens. Grocery markets here don't have a meat market because they are all vegetarians, they don't eat meat or any animal products. So you have to go out to the streets to find some meat. As we pull up I didn't think I wanted to get out of the car.
Raju means chicken. Grandma Kathi had our driver Gorark get us 2 chickens.
The blue van had fish, so we had Gorard get us 2 fish.
Grandma Kathi had Gorark drive us to a floral shop and Grandma Kathi got out and went into the flower shop and bought the coolest center piece for her table. It cost her 320 rupees, $6.93468 USD. 1 dozen red roses and 1 dozen peach roses.
Raju means chicken. Grandma Kathi had our driver Gorark get us 2 chickens.
The blue van had fish, so we had Gorard get us 2 fish.
Grandma Kathi had Gorark drive us to a floral shop and Grandma Kathi got out and went into the flower shop and bought the coolest center piece for her table. It cost her 320 rupees, $6.93468 USD. 1 dozen red roses and 1 dozen peach roses.
Holli, also called the Festival of Colours
Tomorrow is Holi Festival!
The main day, Holi is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other.
The festival of colour is celebrated with great festivity and joy. On this day, people come out wearing pure white clothes and gather together in a common place where they play and throw the colors on each other. People walk down their neighborhoods to celebrate Holi by exchanging colours and spraying coloured water on one another. A popular activity is the throwing of water balloons at one another,
Bonfires are lit the day before. Grandma Kathi and I got to attend one of these bonfires. The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion.
Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. In 2009, Holi (Dhulandi) was on March 11 and Holika Dahan was on March 10. In 2010, Holi is on March 1 and Holika Dahan was on February 28.
The main day, Holi is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other.
The festival of colour is celebrated with great festivity and joy. On this day, people come out wearing pure white clothes and gather together in a common place where they play and throw the colors on each other. People walk down their neighborhoods to celebrate Holi by exchanging colours and spraying coloured water on one another. A popular activity is the throwing of water balloons at one another,
Bonfires are lit the day before. Grandma Kathi and I got to attend one of these bonfires. The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion.
Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. In 2009, Holi (Dhulandi) was on March 11 and Holika Dahan was on March 10. In 2010, Holi is on March 1 and Holika Dahan was on February 28.
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