A personal style

A modern-global home

speaks varied style languages

simultaneously.

It is modern

with organic sensibility,

it is simple and functional

yet warm

at the same time,

it has more pizzazz

and less restraint

and most importantly

exudes a very very personal style.

Would love to hear about your thought :)

{Above pictures are from my home library}

All Rights Reserved 

© http://rainbow-thecoloursofindia.blogspot.com/

শারদ শুভেছা !!:)...Sharod Shubhechha...The Autumn Festivities in Bengal...Durga Puja :)

'বাজল তোমার আলোর বেণু
মাতল রে ভুবন...'

the  fragrance in the air,
fragrance of the  festivities :)

   Autumn is here again,

in  Bengal  ,
my Bengal...

'Sharod Shubhechha'

the beautiful autumn festival of Durga Puja.


এসো শরতের অমল মহিমা, এসো হে ধীরে।
                        চিত্ত বিকাশিবে চরণ ঘিরে।।

That very special time of the year
 beautiful autumn days 
in Bengali countryside,
the blue of the autumn sky

the lush green paddy fields,

the white of the 'Grass Flowers'(Kash Ful)...

the pink of the fully  blossomed lotus(s) in the pond, 

the immaculate white clouds 

 swelling  up in the deep blue sky 

the village river is flowing in full swing ;

and those melodious folk songs about 'Maa Durga'
Bengal's very own 'Agomoni Geet'
those unforgettable melodies
'Oratario' invoking The Goddess Durga.

When the whole world is worshipping Devi, 
the supremely radiant Goddess Durga,
 a glimpse of festivities
from my quintessential Bengali Home 
in Singapore...

Today is MahaNabami

the fourth day of Durga puja 

and this Bengali lady is crazily busy

engrossed with her inseparable 'Bong Conections' :)

endless chitter-chatter with family and friends

preparing gourmet Bengali cuisines
and yes, at the same time terribly missing her good old 'Kolkata Days'
all those nostalgic childhood memories of Durga Puja...

Wish you all a very happy Durga Puja and Dussehra !! 






Pictures are taken by me. Please, do not reuse them in any form without my written permission. Thanks!

A Creative Weekend...My Madhubani Art !:)

As usual the weekend was crazily busy....with a long to do list..! Shopping, cooking ,cleaning, kids school homework to be finished, activity classes, my own work, hubby's office party, friends to visit, barbecue on the beach...oops!!..mad!..mad!..mad!!
Tooooo  much work to do...in  soooo little time...??... But, at the end you know I love multitasking ...as it gives me immense satisfaction :)

Anyway,over the weekend I have managed to finish this one...my first MADHUBANI Painting...here it goes..on my tabletop :)

At the beginning...

and finally ...

a few closer views

my first Madhubani Painting...it is framed now..:)

I always loved the bold use age of colours, ornate floral pattern, double line border, geometric

figures, flora and fauna in those beautiful Madhubani Folk Art...what about you?? Don't you like the rustic, vivid look ??:)

Images: Mine and copyrighted

Linking:

betweennapsontheporch

A Very Happy Bengali New Year..:)

A gentle summer dawn

the first daylight 

 soft and dreamy
early morning..

light and shadow..

and my nest...!:)

 sheer summer curtains

cool breeze..

dreamy ..

and magical moments..:)

a beautiful morning

with some GREEN love..!:)

some bright summer colours...!

happy chrysanthemums

by the window..

the soft morning light is coming through...!

today is Poila Baisakh..

Naba Barsha in Bengal (India)

the very first day of Bengali New Year

Subha Naba Barsha..

Happy Bengali New Year..:)



'HAND FAN Love'....my no fuss DIY projects...

Design is all about an open mind and recognising the beauty in opportunities...do you agree?...Well..! I think, now-a-days a big part of decor is all about 'Reduce-Reuse-Recycle'....which is chic and Eco-friendly at the same time.....it's all about to embrace nature, colour and vintage....here comes the DIY concept!! Through this projects we can easily develop our own signature style :)....So, here is my first DIY project...very simple,easy, fuss less yet Eco-friendly :)

   DIY Project 1

When you are talking about 'Traditional Hand Fans'....I'm absolutely there:)...I have a weakness for them from my childhood days..and I love collecting them !!  The other day when I was cleaning my store room got this one!....Oh noooo!....a broken, old, discoloured stuff !!....

A typical Indian (Bengal) hand fan...Tal-Patar Pakha (a hand fan made out of palm leaf)...a very old one and frankly  speaking the condition was not too good !:(...

But please don't forget that at the end it was a 'hand fan'...so, I decided not to waste a single moment....my creative brain (oops!..well whatever little creativity I have!!?:)) whispered...'just go on my gal'....and finally am here....!!!..

The tiniest change makes the difference...and this is the beauty in opportunities..!!:)

   DIY Project 2

This traditional sandalwood Chinese/ Japanese hand fans are very common here in South-East Asia...

I had three of them....two I've kept intact.....the third one got some special touch..and here it goes:

                                           .....taadaa..:)

My 'Hand fan Love'.....and a  collage :)...

Isn't it colourful??...By now, all of  you  know my love for colours in home decor...I feel the colours make a home cozy and vibrant!...and you have to be a little adventurous ...one should apply the right colour at the right place...It's all about adding a little element of glamour!!:)...

My DIY project!....the colourful Chinese hand fan!!...now it's standing on a mirror at my entryway....a red silk Vail atop the mirror is holding this little fan...!!:)

This cute Vietnamese doll is an old  purchase from  Ho Chi Minh City...a very special gift from DH :)...These two red tea cups are part of a Chinese tea set from Beijing :)...

I have used simple acrylic colours(in both the cases)...first a base paint coat (lemon yellow in these cases)...then you can apply different shades of colours in different patterns according to your choice....

In the first project for the frills I have used a red coloured piece of cloth...since in Bengal the traditional hand fans are used to have red coloured frills!!....At the end I have decorated it with silver chumkis and Karis (Kori).....a typical Bengali decor idea !

 A Collage...:)

Always, I love to embrace colour, vintage and nature for my home and the rest is fun!:)...

So, my lovelies ...did you like my DIY projects??..It's all about Recycle and Reuse...!!!.. Isn't it very satisfying to get the inspiration out of your own head and seeing the net physical result...??!!

Waiting for your suggestions.....!! Please feel free to drop your comments...would love to hear from you as always :)

Wish You All A Very Happy Upcoming Diwali :)

Linking:

savvysouthernstyle

MAHISHASURAMARDINI

Today is Mahalaya(মহালয়া)...the commencement of 'Devipaksha' (দেবিপক্ষ)...the beginning of 'Autumn Festival' or 'Sharadiya Durga Puja/Sharadiya Durgatsav' (শারদীয়া দুর্গা পুজা) ...

Here, enjoy the timeless beauty of Mahalaya  Agomani and 'Chandi Path' (চণ্ডী পাঠ) by (Late) Birandra Krishna Bhadra....a very nostalgic moment for every Bengali like me!.....it's all about our childhood days!!....all those auspicious  moments in a beautiful autumn ( Ashwin) dawn and that wonderful AIR (All India Radio) telecast.....yes, once in a year...on this Mahalaya Dawn only!....those unforgettable melodies!....an 'Oratario' invoking The Goddess Durga...Sanskit Chants,'Slokas' and Bengali devotional songs by versatile artists of yesteryear's.....still in my heart!!

                Subho Mahalaya (শুভ মাহালায়া )...!!!


















To all my friends, readers and followers, wish you a very Happy Durga Puja and Navaratri.


 YouTube videos copyrights to original owner(s).

বাজল তোমার আলোর বেণু...মাতলো রে ভুবণ...!!!

 

                                                                             
Pree, যখন তুমি লিখতে বললে তখন ভাবলাম এবার বাংলা-এ লিখব!...বহুদিন পর!!...যেমন লিখতাম আগে...অনেক...অনেক দিন আগে...সেই হারিয়ে যাওয়া ছোটবেলা-এ...যখন লিখতাম... 'শরত কালে দুর্গা পুজো হয়'...

                                                                 
                                                                                                                

 "মেঘের কোলে রোদ হেসেছে/ বাদল গেছে টুটি"....Bangali-r অতি আপন 'শরতের সুগন্ধ'...আকাশে-বাতাসে ..."আহা কি আনন্দ আকাশে বাতাসে"...Autumn ba Fall-er songe kothae jeno aajo ekta tofat roye gechhe ei 'শরতের'...amar fele asha din...fele asha chotobela, dhaker baddi-dhuper gondho-dhunuchi nach-pujo bari-notun jama-mayer mukh-sondharoti-prosad khaoa...pujo mane buker majhe gunguniye otha ek adbhut anabil sur...'পুজোর সুর...খুশির সুর...ছুটির সুর' .....!!

Agagora Kolkata-r ek bordhishnu onchole boro hoyechi ...kintu 'গ্রাম বাংলার' sathe jogajog chilo jothesto....khub bhor bela, surji mama  jokhon sobe pub akashe  dekha diyechen , sei somoye... jokhon  dubbo ghaser upor theke  alto kore tule nitam shishir bindu, tokhoni bhujhtam 'পুজো এসেছে'.....jhore pora shiuli fuler sughrane jokhon batas bhore uthto... thik tokhoni jantam 'পুজো এসে গেল'... R 'pujo' mane-i to 'Durga Pujo'..:)...Sei 'আসছে বছর আবার এসো মা'- er porer khon thekei je dinti-r jonno protikha!!....

                                               


Chotobela-r 'পুজোর গন্ধ-ই' chilo alada....dhaker baddi...kashor ghonta...dhunor dhoyaye chokh jala kora...Satsokale 'kala-Bou-er' chan R tarpor-i pujo shuru....na na bhul bollam...pujo to shuru hoye jeto sei ponchomir din thekei...jedin school-er chuti shuru hoto....na na tar-o age... sei 'মহালয়া' theke-i...abar bhul!!!....Chotobelar pujo shuru to sei 'Bishokorma Pujo-r' din thekei....Amar ma-er jokhoni 'ঘর-দোর' sob porishkar kora shuru hoto....almarir jama-kapor sob rode porto, tokhoni jantam  'Pujo ashche' ...ei je 'Pujo ashche-ashche bhab' etai chilo pujo-r sobtheke boro anondo....amader shishu hate-r anjali bhore jokhon kuriye nitam ekmutho 'ঝরে পড়া শিউলি'...tokhon thekei to পুজোর শুরু....!!

                                                                    
Nil akashe jokhon sada megher bhela, nodir chore jokhon 'Rupoli Bali' chikchik korche.....Kash fuler bon jhokhon anonde matoyara.....'Kumartuli-r' karigor-ra jokhon byasto 'thakur gorte' tokhon shuru hoto 'Pujor Bajar'....amader chotobelaye 'Pujor Bajar(বাজার)' chilo; ...tokhono'Puja Bazar' hoyeni!!:)....Notun jama-notun juto...aro chotobela-e notun khelna...R ektu boro hotei 'Sharodiya Anondomela', 'Shuktara', 'Sondesh'....Kakabau-Sontu/Ribhu/Pandob Goyenda/Nonte-Fonte/Aronnodeb/Feluda-Prof Shonku...sokal belaye 'fulko luchi' R kalo-jire foron diye 'alur chorchori'...May-er hater ranna....khichuri-beguni-labra-mishti tometor chatni-payesh....adda r anondo....anondo chilo afuronto....sorote-r se-i mayabi mishti rod...'ছুটির-আমেজ/ ছুটির  গন্ধ'... 'আয়রে ছুটে আয় পুজোর গন্ধ এসেছে'...

দশভূজা মা দুর্গা ... অসুরদলনী মা

শারদ শুভেছা

                                                                                

শাপলা শালুকে সাজাইয়া সাজি শরতে শিশিরে নাহিয়া ।

শিউলি ছোপান শাড়ীখানি পড় আগমনী গান গাহিয়া।।

Pree, Singapore শিউলি pelam na...pelam na শাপলা/শালুক...amader  bagane jhore pora kichu রঙ্গন - চম্পক diye-i sajiye nilam amar pujor-dali....:)...Chotobelar hariye jaoa dingulor songe fele eshechi onek kichui ....hoyeto ba শরতের শিউলি-শাপলা-কেও...fele eshechi bangla-e...kolkata-e.... pujor Kolkata-e...jar kono tulona hoye na...amader Kolkata...amader chotobelar Kolkata....bishayaoner bohu ager Kolkata...sei kolkata-r ekta alo chilo...ekta alada alo...koto khujechi poroborti jibone sei alo-ke...amar Chennai-Dilli-Singapore-er byastotar jibone...kintu paini...kothae jeno hariye gelo...sei alo...শরতের আলো....chotobelar Kolkata...chotobelar Pujo...আমাদের কলকাতার পুজো...পুজোর কলকাতা...!!

 এসো শরতের অমল মহিমা, এসো হে ধীরে।

                        চিত্ত বিকাশিবে চরণ ঘিরে।।

"আমার রাত পোহালো শারদ প্রাতে।

বাঁশি, তমায় দিয়ে যাব কাহার হাতে।।"

                                                                                   
আজ অনেক দিন পর  দু-ছত্র বাংলা লিখতে বসে অনেক কথাই হয়েত এলোমে্লো হয়ে গেল ...হয়েত অনেক কথাই ঠিকমত গুছিয়ে বলা হল না...তবুও আমার পুজো এমনি ...আটপৌরে!...অতি সাধারন!!... বাংলার ঘরোয়া পুজো...:)

                                                                             
একচালার প্রতিমা, ডাকের সাজ, ড্যাবড্যাবে চোখ, ধুনুচি নাচ, ধাকের বাদ্যি,কলা বউ,লাল পেড়ে সাদা শাড়ি, সন্ধি পুজো, শাল পাতার থালায়ে ভোগের খিচুরি, সন্ধারতি, দশমির সিঁদুর-খেলা, মিস্টিমুখ, ঘুগনি আর নোনতা...'আসছে বছর আবার এস মা'...এই সব কিছু নিয়ে আমার পুজো...ঘরোয়া পুজো...বাংলার পুজো... ফিরে আসুক বারংবার...প্রতি বছর...!!:)

                                                                                    

I am going to link this post on yours Beyond Five Days of Durga Puja.

Happy Durga Puja to you all !!:)

All pictures are mine . Please, do not reuse these in any form without my written permission. Thanks.