Orange You Glad It's Friday, Week 114 - October 30, 2014

First of all, I must congratulate my home team San 
Francisco Giants on their great World Series win.
It was a knuckle biting seven games and, though I 
didn't actually watch them from India, I followed, almost
play by play, on internet news.

I offered prayers to almost every deity, including Lord
Ganesha, the Indian god, known as the overcomer of
obstacles.  To whichever god ( or all of them ) that 
helped my team win, thank you!!  Our city rejoices.

My "orange you glad Friday" post is of a sweet Lord
Ganesha I found at Creative Textiles in Jaipur, a store
that had wonderful fabrics and made lovely clothes 
from them.  I came home with two outfits and this 
little Ganesha.  I now have a small collection of Ganeshas.

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Diwali 2013 - November 2, 2013

Bing image, domain free

This is the second Diwali - this year from November 3rd to November 7th - that 

I have been in India.  It is probably the major Hindu festival of the year, celebrated

by friends and family with much joy and festivity, firecrackers popping, gift giving 

and wonderful foods, traditional to this time of celebration.  Much like Christmas 

in the Christian world, it is a holiday when those far afield return to their homeland 

to be with their families to maintain traditions.  Diwali, the festival of lights, is

a joyous time, a time of rebirth, hope, and homes are filled with candles and diyas

burning oil to fill the world with brightness.

Bing image, domain free

Each of the four days of Diwali has a different legend/theme/myth, usually

dealing with the triumph of good over evil and darkness, thus the importance

and significance of light.  Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word "dipavali"

which means "row of lights" and candles and diyas are placed  everywhere in

homes and business.  Fireworks light the heavens and there is a sense of

joy everywhere.

Bing image, domain free

If you'd like to know a little more about Diwali, check out the links below.  

Happy Diwali to everyone, especially to all of my Hindu and Indian friends in India 

and elsewhere in the world.  I wish you all a happy Diwali filled with all life's blessing 

for you and those you hold dear. At this sacred time, when evil was banished and 

light overcame darkness, I am honored to once again be in India to share in this 

joyous occasion. May the goddess, Lakshmi, bring you, not only material wealth, but 

the wealth of loving family and friends and may the Lord Ganesha constantly remove 

any obstacles that come up in your life.

Bing image, domain free

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

http://hinduism.about.com/od/diwalifestivaloflights/a/diwali.htm

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Sundays in My City

Friday Fragments #266 - My First Visit to Friday Fragments - September 13, 2012

Well, this has certainly been a fragmented week for me.  Sometimes it is hard to 
keep focused, that's for sure.

My Sunday began at the beautiful Grand Hyatt Mumbai where I had splurged and
spent my last Hyatt points for an overnight stay in their Club Level.  Talk about 
luxury.  Just before leaving, I availed myself of a wonderful breakfast in the Club
Lounge, with great staff in attendance and an assortment of excellent food items.

The auto rickshaw ride back to my Branda West condo was much lengthier

than usual since Sunday was the beginning of the week long Bandra Fair,

taking place right beside my residence.  The streets were jammed with 

people buying all sorts of trinkets and, of course, street food ( which I

refrain from eating in India though it smells so tempting ).

All three of my cat housemates were waiting when I got home and, for some

reason, they have parked themselves outside my door all week.  They are

not allowed in my bedroom ( allegries ) but they seem to like my company

when I work at the computer with my door open, sitting there quietly.

Monday marked the beginning of a very special celebration in India, the birthday of the

Hindu god, Ganesha, who bears the head of an elehant.  Almost every home in this

country has his image displayed.  He is revered as the lord of success and the 

destroyer of evil and obstancles. He is also invoked at the start of travels and is

worshipped as the god of education, wisdom and wealth.

The festival to honor Ganesha last for ten days and, on the 11th day, his image

is paraded through the streets, then submerged in a body of water - a river, lake,

the sea - even just a bucket of water for the small images - a ritual sendoff as 

he journeys to home taking the troubles of mankind.  Ah, if only he could be

successful!!!

While monsoon season, I believe, is officially over, we have had several very 

heavy showers, making the Bandra fair goes most unhappy.

Fortunately, by nightful, it had ceased and I could see the lights of south 

Mumbai, across the Arabian Sea, from my window.

I am almost halfway through Barbara Kingsolver's, "Pigs in Heaven".  I ordered

it as soon as I'd finished the first book of the set, "The Bean Trees".  She is 

one of my favorite authors and I will be sad to see this book end.

I am halfway through this six month stay in India.  I miss my family and friends

( and the cooler temperatures ) in San Francisco but I am enjoying this, my

third lengthy stay in India.  October 3, I celebrate my 69th birthday ( how did

I ever get this old ).  I was in Jaipur last year and it was quite a special 

birthday, with three different cakes in three different locations.  No wonder I 

love India.

This is my first time to post in Friday Fragment but I am sure I'll be back.

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A Lovely Welcome Home - December 9, 2012

The same dear friend that gave me a farewell soiree, prior to my departure for 
India, hosted a welcome home for me - in combination with a birthday party for
another friend.  It was a lovely occasion, on a rainy San Francisco day.  Inside her
beautiful home, however, it was warm and cozy, for man and beast alike.  There 
was a feast ( which we had to move to higher ground as our four legged friends
wanted to share ) and superb wines ( I had been lamenting my lack of such
during my stay in India ).  I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my
life.  While I do miss India, having such special people here makes my visits home
especially nice!

I can never remember all the doggie's names

Roosters & chickens are among my friend's many collections

Spanokapita and brie to start

An incredible house filled with collections

I find something new every visit

Chickens and roosters and lovely chests

I wonder who dusts all this!

Million dollar views of San Francisco

A beautiful bathroom

Too dreary to be outside today

My favorite spot to sit

A houseful of art and music

Lovely pieces from all over the world

Pretty Tiffany lamp

Something beautiful in every corner

A little Lord Ganesha to remind me of India

Another Asian treasure

Small ornaments hanging from branches of wood

Comfy seat

Sweet Ranger

Don't remember her name

Mark has a lap dog

The sweetest dog ever!

Looks like she should be in the Ididarod!

Much of the night, she stayed on the couch next to me....nice heater!

This is a Japanese breed of which I'd never heard

Look at those blue eyes

Preparing a take home "people" bag

Creative Fashion India - October 11, 2012

My favorite rickshaw driver, Ikram, took me to Creative Fashion India, a lovely
textile store right in Bani Park where I live in Jaipur.  I had been to another much
larger place when I first arrived in Jaipur and had a couple of outfits made.  They
were nice but very expensive and I had been told by many people that it catered
to tourists and I had been charged far too much.  I really wasn't looking to have
more clothes made but wanted something from India to send my daughter-in-law,
Laura, for her birthday.  Creative Fashion was a smaller store, on one floor only,
less ostentatious but they had a large selection of fabrics, were equally willing
to pull out every single one to show you and offered a cup of that wonderfully
aromatic and delicious chai while you pondered a purchase.  I enjoyed my first
visit there, chatting with the owner and the two young men ( I think they were 
his sons ) and I did find a lovely green throw with gold threads running through
it which was perfect for Laura's couch and I got a fuschia one for my bed.

Yesterday, I went back to see if they could alter some of my clothes.  Since 
coming to India, I've lost over thirty pounds and I have been wearing my favorite
clothes because I can't bear to part with them.  In reality, too, I have no others.
Before coming to India the first time, I gave almost everything I had to Goodwill,
including clothes that were too small.  They would fit me perfectly now but who
would ever have believed I would become two sizes smaller!!!  At any rate, 
Creative Fashion said they would alter those clothes and the pants on the Indian
kurta sets I had - and for a reasonable price.  

I decided I should do a blog on the business.  Anuj Ajmera, a delightful young 
man, and I even discussed setting up some kind of business venture between 
the two of us.  I would love that.

I am such a lover of elephants, I could easily buy a dozen fabrics with elephant
patterns! They have bed spreads, table coverings and even fabrics for clothing 
with all sorts of elephant designs.  The briliant colors and arrays of fabrics, some
jeweled, takes ones breath away.  Of course, there are pillow cases, pashminas,
ready made kurtas, and other items.  

Wall hanging

The two wonderful brothers, Manoj ( left ) & Anuj ( right ) Ajmera

Bolts and bolts of beautiful material behind these young men

This hot pink fabric, I bought in 1997 in Singapore.  It lay, folded in my closet 

until I came to India this past December.  I hoped I might find someone to make

it into an outfit for me.  The mother of a Mumbai friend, Tajinder Kaur, had it 

made it into a kurta and patiala pants which, of course, with my weight loss,

were now too large.  Creative Fabrics will take the pants in a bit so I can actually

wear the outfit, sixteen years after I bought the fabric.  It's amazing.  It NEVER

wrinkled - though I have.

This bright, colorful cotton dress - and one made from the same pattern - is 

one of my favorite pieces of clothing of all time.  I've worn it hundreds of times

and it has been on every cruise I've taken since I got it.  My beloved friend of

over forty years, Charlene Payton, an RN I first worked with in Tampa, Florida

when Shawn was just a toddler - she nicknamed him "misery" - made the two 

dresses for me.  At any rate, I wanted it taken in a bit.  Anuj was amazed at how

well the fabric, washed so many times, has held up and has maintained the bright

colors ( I love to do eyeshadows with this dress ).  I can't believe I didn't bring the

other dress with me this time.  Charlene also made a beautiful black cocktail

dress for me and a strawberry coverup that I love.  I wish I could sew but who 

needed to when you had a friend like Char!!

Lord Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles - of course, I did have to buy this.  He

is the one Hindu god I recognize immediately because he looks like an elephant.

I do pray to him, from time to time - for what?  Please, Lord Ganesha, help me get

back to India, the country of my heart!

Amazing fabrics, jeweled and beaded

Anuj, with one of the ready made, one-size-fits-all kurtas that come in many colors

More beautiful fabric

Indian women at weddings and festivals are amazingly beautiful, dressed in fabrics like this.

I think Anuj should be wearing the nice white pants and shirts I see so many Indian

men wearing.  He tells me they make these sets for women as well, in colors!

I love these colorful Rajasthani puppets

I wish I had the money to have a variety of Indian outfits from the fabrics on these shelves!

Wonderful colors

Just hanging out with the boys

You can visit Creative Fashion India on Facebook at: 

https://www.facebook.com/CreativeFashionIndia?fref=ts

or email Anuj Ajmera for more information on his products -

anuthenice@rediffmail.com.  Items are shipped FedEx and insured.