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Colors of Life

by Vidya Sury May 19, 2013 54 comments
Colors of Life Pattachitra

In the middle of all the love, peace and happiness work we’re involved in, I managed to get an unexpected break and visit a crafts fair near our place en route to running an errand. It was a delightful interlude to an extremely warm and busy day. Just window-shopping, taking in the colors of life was a visual treat. This crafts fair is something one can expect to see happening all over the city at various times – and I usually wait for one that is close enough to where we stay. As I approached the gate, I saw people spilling out from an otherwise peaceful place. Then I saw the banner announcing the event and I had to walk in.

There were displays from all over India – and I took a few pictures. Some of the stall owners requested me not to take photographs and I had to respect them. Still,  I am grateful I got to even look at all their gorgeous crafts. There were craftsmen demonstrating how they made the specific items being sold and that was a wonderful experience.

That India has a rich heritage is something everyone knows – but the diversity of art is simply breathtaking, with every stall being equally stunning.  It was a great time-out for me and I spent a glorious hour and a half there.  So let’s begin our photo-journey already through…..

the colors of life!

This stark black display is stoneware from Manipur in  NorthEastern India.  I was eager to buy and secretly thanked my lucky stars that I left my credit card at home! So no, I did not.

Colors of Life Manipur

Colors of life – Stoneware from Manipur at the Crafts Fair

Look at this, in absolute contrast! I  have quite a few of these and love them. Useful and great to look at!

Colors of Life ceramics

A riot of colors of life – pottery exhibition at the crafts fair

This stall had some fabulous wood and metal art from North India, probably Rajasthan, since the rest of their display was from there. Beautiful to look at and very very expensive.

Colors of Life UP

Colors of Life – wood and metal art

Creative art – glazed decorative pottery with figures etched on the side. Very interesting to look at. Huge. I wonder what she’s worried about. She looks so pensive!

Colors of life creative art

Colors of Life – Creative art – glazed pottery

But these, pottery from Rajasthan – I would definitely have liked one for my house, especially the narrow ones. Under the awning, in the warm afternoon sun, they just glowed.

Colors of Life Rajasthan 2

Colors of Life – brilliant hues of Rajasthan

A closer look. Quite lovely.

Colors of life Rajasthan

Colors of life – decorative art from Rajasthan

More pottery. I thought of the post title colors of life when I saw this. I am really proud of myself for not buying any. Especially that miniature set on the left.

Colors of life pottery

Colors of Life – Colorful pottery galore

Another of those glazed pottery works of art. This was a pretty tall …um….vase? It kind of freaked me out.

Colors of life lady

Colors of Life – Glazed pottery art

I bought some bookmarks – Pattachitra art on palm leaves or palm leaf painting, which is native of Odisha

Colors of Life Patachitra

RadhaKrishna Patachitra on a palm leaf – exquisitely done

I got a colorful Sanganeri bed cover with Kantha work from the Rajasthan stall. I just love it! The entire bedspread is first hand block printed and then the “kantha work” or running hand-stitches are done. Labor of love.

Colors of Life Sanganeri

A beautiful Sanganeri bedspread with kantha work. I love it!

Then, I quickly decided to step out.

Then the heavens opened up, and the rain came down in torrents. Secure in the knowledge that my purchases and other contents were safely wrapped in plastic, I happily started the long trek to the bus stop so I could get some kind of transport home.

An hour later, I shared an autorickshaw with another lady who was heading in the same direction and got home – drenched to the…um….skin.

It felt good though, to have been impulsive and take out some time to smell the flowers. It helped me relax. It refreshed me. It made me happy and allowed me to empty my mind.

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.  ~Lily Tomlin

Let’s now head to UnknownMami’s place – she is the lovely host of  the Sundays In My City meme.

Unknown Mami
And remember
There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want. 
~Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes
Have a lovely week ahead!
parenting with love and logic
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54 comments

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54 comments

Sebastian Aiden Daniels May 20, 2013 at 12:00 am

I liked the pictures and enjoying the culture of India. You are right very colorful. Hopefully some day I can visit India : D.

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Keetha May 20, 2013 at 4:12 am

Everything is so beautiful but the stoneware is so unique it kinda stole my heart.
Keetha recently posted…Sunday at the River

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Carmen Henesy May 20, 2013 at 6:15 am

Oh, Vidya, what treasures. In my five months of living in Jaipur, I didn’t see those gorgeous elephants with the long curving trunk or I would have succumbed.

I enjoyed every word and picture of this blog.

Off to India June 1 for six months.

My Sunday post is at:

http://rnsane.blogspot.com/2013/05/ues-weekend-challenge-seascape-sundays.html
Carmen Henesy recently posted…UE’s Weekend Challenge – Seascape & Sundays in My City. May 19, 2013

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:42 am

Hi Carmen! Great to know you’re visiting again! Where will you be staying this time? Welcome back! 🙂

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Sandra Pawula May 20, 2013 at 10:13 am

Viday,

These crafts are so unique and beautiful. What a joyful feast for the eyes. Thank you.
Sandra Pawula recently posted…Three Essential Elements of Personal Power

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:41 am

There used to be a time when I would come back home loaded, Sandra. I’ve learned the joy of just capturing on camera – takes up a lot less space! Hugs!

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Cathy Taughinbaugh May 20, 2013 at 10:57 am

Love the pics. Beautiful items. My favorite are the Stoneware from Manipur at the Crafts Fair and the decorative art from Rajasthan. Thanks for sharing your day, VIdya!
Cathy Taughinbaugh recently posted…Are You Ready to Step Up to the Plate and Be a Parent?

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:41 am

So glad you’re here Cathy! Hugs!

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ajay October 18, 2013 at 10:11 am

mam i would be thankful i you can tell me where can i buy blue pottery with good price. please e mail me
thank you mam

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Vidya Sury October 18, 2013 at 11:29 am

Hi Ajay. Chitrakala Parishath has some exhibition or other almost all the time. They announce it in the newspapers. And they always have blue pottery featured there. 🙂

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privytrifles May 20, 2013 at 11:30 am

Lovely pics…. colours of life suits it to the T

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:40 am

Thank you!

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Afshan May 20, 2013 at 12:17 pm

where was this ! Such delightful exhibits
I took similar pics at Dill haat- Delhi 🙂 I would love to buy that glazed pottery and other pottery works too
They r fabulous
It was a treat to eyes!
Afshan recently posted…May Photo A Day Challenge : Day 20:Light!

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:40 am

This fair was near Shivananda Circle at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (next to the Khadi Bhavan), Afshan. Oh yes, Dilli haat is beautiful too! 😀 Thanks for commenting.

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Suzy May 20, 2013 at 12:32 pm

So colourful. The pottery and bedspread are lovely and beautiful Radha Krishna. Thanks for sharing. What an interesting day you had.
Suzy recently posted…A moment – 6WS – SIMC – Life

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:39 am

I am crazy for color, Suzy and love pottery! I coveted the Pattachitra paintings, which were very expensive and made do with the little bookmarks 😀

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Dorothy May 20, 2013 at 1:05 pm

Those are some of the most unique elephants I’ve ever seen! Amazing!
Dorothy recently posted…If At First You Don’t Succeed – Sundays in My City

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:38 am

It was the first time I saw those too, Dorothy! Fascinating.

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Cynthia Rodrigues Manchekar May 20, 2013 at 1:19 pm

I found the pottery and the stoneware both very fascinating. The elephants were just too good. Thank you for taking us through the fair.
Cynthia Rodrigues Manchekar recently posted…Book Review: OLLIE CHANDLER COLLECTION: DEADLINE, DOMINION, DECEPTION

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:38 am

🙂 Glad you enjoyed the “trip” Cynthia!

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Fran Sorin May 20, 2013 at 3:09 pm

Vidya – The colors, let alone the items and textures, are enough to keep my heart pumping at full speed. What a feast for the eyes. As usual, your Sunday outings always help me start my week with a big smile on my face! xxoo-Fran
Fran Sorin recently posted…Old Fashioned Home Remedies For The Garden

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:37 am

Fran, you said it! It was definitely an adrenalin rush to see so many beautiful things all at once. Hugs!

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Vanita May 20, 2013 at 5:38 pm

sis if i came to visit, i’d have to pay a lot to take home all the things i’d buy. love all the colorful pottery.
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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:37 am

Hugs, Vani. I admit it is very very tempting! Come, anyway! 😀

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Shilpa Garg May 20, 2013 at 6:26 pm

This is my kind of crafts fair. Simply loved the black stoneware from Manipur. Havent seen such kitchen wares before. The ceramic and pottery from Rajasthan is pretty famous and fabulous.
Shilpa Garg recently posted…Behind the Closed Door

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:36 am

That stoneware was stunning, Shilpa – and the bamboo wrapped around the handles set it off beautifully. Thanks for visiting!

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My Inner Chick May 20, 2013 at 10:24 pm

–Vidya,
I want EVERYTHING. I would have bought the vases and the elephants FOR SURE!

Love you more than elephants in Kisumu. Xxx

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:36 am

🙂 So sweet, Kim! It was a fascinating place! They even had a fabulous nude stone sculpture in the garden three times my size. Love you more than the panthers in Kisumu!

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Debbie May 21, 2013 at 12:06 am

Beautiful Vidya. You sure do have a way with the camera. That one vase was kind of scary. have to agree.

We have craft fairs here in the USA and this is the timne of the year when they will start popping up at parks or malls.

You can spend hours there. Hope you did get dried out!

Thank so much for sharing your world. it is wonderful being able to see what you see.
debbie
Debbie recently posted…The Great Hospital Hoax And I Am Not Joking

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:34 am

I really could have spent hours there, Debbie, except I didn’t have the time. I am glad I got an hour there! I got back home pretty safe, though and all was well.

Thanks! Hugs!

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Roshni May 21, 2013 at 1:42 am

So so beautiful and vibrant!! You were wise to leave your credit card home!! 🙂
Roshni recently posted…What I learned while migrating my blog from Blogger to a self-hosted WordPress blog

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:34 am

You bet, Roshni. Exhibitions are usually expensive, except on the last two days when they want to sell off everything. Treat to the eyes though!

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Elle May 21, 2013 at 3:38 am

Vidya I love your pics and your tour of India is always amazing. Those elephants with the long tusks have my name on them!

Love Elle
xoxo
Elle recently posted…Pity Or Power – You Choose.

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:33 am

😀 Elle! Yes, India is amazing – and when I think how much I have left to see, I am overwhelmed! You know, those elephants had my name too, along with another set of figurines in the same type of art. I had to regretfully rub it off. 😀 When you visit India…… 🙂 you know what I am going to say!

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Galen Pearl May 21, 2013 at 10:16 am

Oh, you know I love these posts! It’s wonderful to love where you live, to find delight in its treasures. Thank you again for sharing your home with us.
Galen Pearl recently posted…Transformations

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:32 am

🙂 The little pleasures of life, Galen. It was glorious to spend that hour there! Thank you for commenting!

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Diana Pinto May 21, 2013 at 3:20 pm

Vidya that’s superb collection and very tempting too….lovely to see all the colourful pottery on display. where was this ?

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Vidya Sury May 21, 2013 at 4:32 pm

Diana – it is at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath – near Shivananda Circle. 🙂 Lovely time there, too short for my liking, but hey. Every little matters. 🙂
Vidya Sury recently posted…Colors of Life

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Anita Prasad May 21, 2013 at 11:53 pm

Hi Vidya,

You seem to have an eye for beauty… lovely amazing pics. Though i hate crowded places, i would have braved it to catch a glimpse of this display…Thanks for showcasing Bangalore to the rest of the world..

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:15 am

What fun it would be to hang around a place like that together, Anita. 🙂 I’ll email you, rey. Lots happening in my life right now. In fact, I have been thinking of you and wishing I had a “haazri” call 😀 Hugs!

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Jodi @ Heal Now May 22, 2013 at 7:25 am

Gorgeous colors, I love your photos, always!
Jodi @ Heal Now recently posted…Skills In Breaking Free

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Vidya Sury May 22, 2013 at 8:31 am

Thank you, Jodi! Pleasure to see you here, always!

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Terri Sonoda May 22, 2013 at 8:34 pm

OMG I love all the pictures! The colors are eye-popping. Love the vases! Reminds me of being at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul many many years ago! Thanks for sharing, Vidya!
Terri Sonoda recently posted…Oh Momma!

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Vidya Sury May 23, 2013 at 10:28 am

Hugs, Terri! It was such a feast for the eyes and the colors totally warmed my heart!

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blogwatig May 23, 2013 at 10:19 am

OOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhh I love this place. The last time, in fact the only time I visited it….picked so many things. The art and craft is amazing. I loved the stoneware from Manipur. Sigh, I must visit soon.

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blogwatig May 23, 2013 at 10:26 am

And oh forgot to mention, love the rustic campus too 🙂
blogwatig recently posted…Here and Now

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Vidya Sury May 23, 2013 at 10:28 am

I got a lot of pictures of the campus – plan to post them soon! 🙂

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Vidya Sury May 23, 2013 at 10:27 am

Please do, Vinita! Next time I am not forgetting my credit card – I coveted the stoneware like crazy! Still do. 🙂

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blogwatig May 23, 2013 at 10:29 am

Ah, shall wait for them. Hope you got the monkeys too 🙂
blogwatig recently posted…Here and Now

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Vidya Sury May 23, 2013 at 10:46 am

The weird thing is, I didn’t see any. None were around. Probably because it was close to evening. Then suddenly in the space of that hour, the skies clouded over and it rained heavily.

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Rahul May 24, 2013 at 1:56 pm

A delightful splash of color, Vidya! These fairs are something which are unique and it is so difficult to restrain oneself to buy:)

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Disha @ Miami Water Taxi May 27, 2013 at 12:32 pm

Hi Vidya,
It’s really nice wonderful article about life ! We all can see realy life colors in post. This post is realy wonderful pot which inspire about life.

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Unknown Mami June 20, 2013 at 8:06 am

Your description of the experience made me enjoy it almost as much as you did.
Unknown Mami recently posted…Devious Maids is A’ight

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Vidya Sury June 20, 2013 at 8:33 am

I have a lovely feeling of mission accomplished! Hugs!
Vidya Sury recently posted…Currently Reading #FMSphotoaday Day 19

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