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2023 - The Year That Was

Places impact you for a variety of reasons. And the same place impacts different people in different ways. This is especially true when it comes to spiritual experiences, where every single person’s experience is unique. And personally, every spiritual experience is unique, the same person can have different deeply spiritual experiences at different places, at different times. This thought has emerged because of my own experiences over the years, but especially so this year, with different and unique experiences at various places I have visited recently. I began this year with a visit to Baroda (Vadodara) with friends. It was meant to be a relaxed trip, a touristy trip, with our sons. We enjoyed ourselves to the hilt, but the highlight of that trip was a visit to the Lakulisha temple at Pavagadh. It was the iconography of the temple that I connected with, and I spent a few hours simply lost in the details of the figures carved around the temple. There was an indefinable connect with

Navaratri 2015 : Our Home Bommai Kolu



The best part of Navaratri is setting up the Bommai Kolu!



After a hiatus of three years, this year's celebration was much awaited. As usual, though, almost everything got done only at the last moment, which is why this post is so delayed. Anyway, this year was extra special because Samhith helped me set up the kolu even more than usual. For the first time, he helped with the steps, easing my work quite a bit! And we had lots of fun in the process! Take a look at his antics....

And here is what our Kolu looks like...



And without boring you with words, let me show you our Kolu through my photos....

The top steps are for the Gods

The next few steps are about deities too... their figures as well as their worship

The bottom steps are for us, our collections, representing ourselves


This year, I am especially proud of turban I have tied for the marapachi :) 

These stone lamps came all the way from Mysore.....

And this bull from some unknown village in interior Maharashtra...

This camel came all the way from Dubai!!!

These assorted animals.. glass and marble, are from Rajasthan and Gujarat...



This cute family came from Dubai too... when Shankar made a trip some years back...
A Junior Arab, for Samhith, also from Dubai!

This Arab Couple too...

And this one....

And one more... the last couple from Dubai!! They have waited years to take their place here!!
A Houseboat, which came all the way from Kashmir!
Yes, more houseboats! from Kashmir too.... memories of our sole trip there three years ago..




This side golu is Samhith's!

The Krittika Kanyas play in the water with the baby Karthikeyas

His favourite airport set...



where his Lego men play a part too!!


A house in a forest... and a Giant Wheel!
Village Scene
Well with working pulley system to draw water

And our all time favourite - Thomas the Tank Engine!!!

We built a wall around our steps... and a tunnel for Thomas! He enters through this one...

and exits here, opening the door as he does so....


see???


We also have a thirsty crow!

And before I forget, a collection of vehicles...


So, that was our Golu this year.. I will update the post with videos as and when I can.. Meanwhile, looking forward to your comments... and suggestions for next time!! 






Update: For all those people asking me to post a video of the golu and the train going round, here it is.. at last :)



Comments

  1. Lovely! So glad to know that your golu also has Thomas and vehicles. Now, I have to visit your place for seeing the golu. Please keep my share of chundal ready :D

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  2. Beautiful! Your son's Kolu also looks interesting..:-)

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  3. Nice golu, Anu - loved the cute Arabs :) - this is one tradition I really miss from my childhood in Madras...

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Charu! The Arabs are the hot favourites this year! Almost everyone commented on them!

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  4. Love the Arab addition! And the Airport too!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Usha! The airport has been used earlier too.

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  5. such a visual treat, would love to see the chuchu train go around ;) Thanks so much

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Sri! I have updated the post with a video of the train going around :)

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