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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 Day 8: A Golu which tells us a story

Finally catching up with my Navaratri posts, here is the celebration at Fine Arts, Chembur. The Bommai Kolu is just as grand as ever, the 15 steps towering over everyone!




There are three additional steps this time, added on the side! 






Here are a few glimpses of the beautiful toys that adorn this golu.








But the most interesting thing here is the side decoration, which depicts a story through hand crafted dolls. This time, the story is  - Shankuntalam!



I will let the display tell its own story....

Birth of Shakuntala

Shakuntala is raised by Kanva Rishi

Shakuntala meets Dushyanta

Shakuntala and Dushyanta are married

Kanva Rishi decides that Shakuntala be sent to Dushyanta's palace

Shakuntala loses the ring given by Dushyanta

At Dushyanta's court. he does not remember Shakuntala, till the fisherman produces the ring

Bharata - the one  who gave his name to  the country
That't it, as far as Golus this year are concerned. I will hopefully have something more to write for the last couple of days of the festival, so stay tuned!

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Location: The Fine Art Society, Chembur (E), Postal Colony, Kurla East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400071, India

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