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The Vaishnodevi Experience 2023

My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.
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Navaratri 2015 : The Chembur Fine Arts Golu

The Golu at the Chembur Fine Arts is one we look forward to, every year. Not only is it huge, and the dolls are beautiful, but there is always something new and interesting to see, to appreciate. Besides, the experience is enhanced by the music, with students of the institution performing in the evenings. Here is a glimpse of this year's golu..... 

The Main Golu... all of 15 steps! 


The lower steps, with the elaborate kolam

A new addition... the kalasam with the coconut being extended to resemble Ganesha!

Some of the impressive dolls





I first thought this was Vishnu and Lakshmi on Garuda...
a closer look revelaled that this was Gajendra Moksham! 

Samhith's favourites were of course the animals! Esp the cow, which resembles the one we have at home!



The smaller Golu on the side... 

I loved these dolls... dressed so beautifully in costumes from various states / religions

These steps had dolls of saints... including Gandhiji and Swami Vivekananda



Kolam with Nava dhanyam.. nine grains

A village temple scene


people praying to Ganesha under a tree

At the pond

Snake Charmer


And finally, handmade dolls depicting the story of Srinivasa Kalyanam...
the marriage of Srinivasa and Padmavathi, at Tirupati



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Location: The Fine Arts Society, Postal Colony, Chembur, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400071, India

Comments

  1. NatalieGOctober 22, 2015 at 6:16 AM

    Wow, so elaborate! Is this the biggest Golu of the ones you saw this year? It must have taken a long time to set up! The kolum is very beautiful.

    I am slowly learning more about various deities/gods/goddesses in the Hindu pantheon as I read your blog, Anu! :) Thanks for the detailed captions on the pictures you post.

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