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The Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves , located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri, about 11 Km off the coast of the Gateway of India, Mumbai, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to these caves, excavated probably in the 6 th century CE, is awe-inspiring, and also thought-provoking. Over the years, I have visited the caves a number of times, and also attended a number of talks by experts in the fields of art, history and archaeology on the caves. Together, they help me understand these caves, their art, and the people they were created for, just a little bit better. Every new visit, every new talk, every new article I read about the caves, fleshes out the image of what the island and the caves would have been like, at their peak. I last wrote about the caves on this blog, in 2011, almost exactly 11 years ago. Since then, my understanding of the caves has, I would like to think, marginally improved. Hence this attempt to write a new and updated post, trying to bring to life, the caves of Elephan
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Navaratri 2010 - Day 6

Today's Golu is one kept by a friend in the colony. It is a wonderful combination of the old and the new, for they have some really old and beautiful idols, which I enjoy seeing every year, and they have also kept a few new ones along with the kids' toys. Samhith enjoyed this one, especially since he got a bag to carry back home with goodies just like the girls get. Navaratri being a women's festival, boys are generally ignored, but some of us who have boys who don't like being ignored have started giving out goodies to the smaller boys who visit too..... We hope that this will at least make them want to come along with us to see a few Golus!

Here is the full Golu....


With the side arrangement showcasing the toys of both their kids...Barbies and trains! Need I mention that they have a boy and a girl???


Now for the toys... This one is my personal favourite - the goddess Meenakshi.


and here is the First divine family - Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha! in an interesting form...


Lakshmi - Hayagriva -

and Lakshmi Narasimha....


and now for the newer ones... This one depicts Lord Vishnu reclining on Adishesha, Lakshmi by his side, Brahma on the lotus emerging from His navel, Garuda and Hanuman....


and the newest one of all...the dolls set!


Truly, it is with children in the house that Navaratri and Golus become really interesting!

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Comments

  1. UshaOctober 13, 2010 at 1:11 PM

    I loved the concept of giving a goodies bag to little boys. I remember that my brothers' faces would fall when I'd get stuff they wouldn't for some kanya puja that some neighbouring aunties did.

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  2. Sankara Subramanian COctober 13, 2010 at 8:44 PM

    WOW! That is one awesome and colourful golu! I wish such golu's were kept at my home. But my sis doesn't find time at all :-(

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  3. MridulaOctober 15, 2010 at 4:49 PM

    I had noticed the small doll in the first picture itself, good to see the details too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Meghana HassanOctober 12, 2012 at 4:24 PM

    very true, with children at home, this festival becomes very interesting... As i told u on mail i have planned for arranging golu dis year. My little one just after getting down from her school bus asks if i have already arranged the golu....i have been saying no to her since last one week, thank god its just one week day away n she will b happy to have darshan immediately after coming back from school...

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