Wednesday, September 7, 2011

What are the types of Ganesh Patris for Ganesh Puja

On the occasion of Eka Vimshathi Patra Puja, which is a puja conducted as soon as the Ganapati idol is brought home, 21 holy leaves are offered during the puja. These leaves are known as Ganesh Patris. The word 'patri' actually does not mean a leaf. It has its origin in Sanskrit and basically means a protector. It also means a vessel and is also another name for Goddess Durga.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Gold jewellery designs for Gauri Ganapati idols

During the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, many families bring home both Ganapati and Gauri idols. Both idols are bedecked with glittering gold ornaments to give them a glorious aura.

The jewellery shown below are exclusively of M.V.Pendurkar and Co. Jewellers, Mumbai (address & phone nos. at the end of this post).

Silver chatri (umbrella) placed above an idol

Gold jewellery for Gauri idol
A seated Gauri dressed in traditional Nauvari saree ~ note the ornament around waist and jewellery around wrists & fingers

A standing Gauri ~ note the tight choker jewellery around neck & varying lengths of other necklaces

Closeup of the standing Gauri ~ note the nosering and ear jewellery pieces, with gold flowers on shoulders

Ganapati and Gauri

Gold jewellery for Lord Ganesha idol
Golden crown befitting a Lord (note earrings hooked on to each ear - detailed image below)
Closeup of earrings and neck pieces

Gold Om symbol on right hand of the idol
Golden mouse holding golden modak & draped with cloak
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Gold accessories for Ganapati Gauri idols

Gold 5-petaled flower and gold elephant

Holy offerings: (from left to right) apple, banana, pear, coconut, pomegranate, mouse with modak

Contact information of M.V.Pendurkar and Co. Jewellers Mumbai
8-A, New Popatlal Building,
opp. Saraswat Bank,
Ranade Road,
Dadar,
Mumbai - 400028
Ph: 022-24302452/24225003
Contact persons: Ajit M.Pendurkar & Mrs.Aarti A. Pendurkar
Specialists in: Gold, silver, diamond & pearl jewellery and retailers of various gemstones.

More jewellery designs

Gold Jewellery for Goddess Durga

Sunday, August 21, 2011

2011 Dahi Handi locations in Mumbai and Thane

A day after Krishna Janmashtami, it is time to indulge in the playful childhood activity of Lord Krishna - breaking handis to steal curds! Maharashtra is where you need to be on this day, as it is in cities like Mumbai, Pune and other small towns & villages that you will see groups of people forming human pyramids to reach the handi dangling from a rope high above their heads. The celebration, though, is not just about breaking the symbolic handi, but winning a cash prize too for the group. Each year, the cash prizes for breaking the handis have increased phenomenally, with politicians primarily offering the largest amounts.


Where to go for Dahi Handi celebrations in Mumbai and Thane
1. Dadar Dahi Handi: (a) in front of Nakshatra Mall, near the wholesale vegetable market. (b) Ranade Road - there is one usually in front of V.M.Pendurkar Jewellers. (c) R.K. Vaidya Road.

2. Shivaji Park Dahi Handi: (a) in front of Ashray Hotel, in lane opposite Monginis cake shop. (b) in lane opposite Corporation Bank. (c) in front of Nebula Gypsy restaurant, Keluskar Road (South).


3. Worli Dahi Handi: The main dahi handi celebrations take place at Jamboree maidan, BDD chawls.

4. Kalachowki Dahi Handi: (a) Ganesh Galli, near Lalbaug market. (b) Shahid Bhagat Singh maidan, Abhyudaya Nagar. (c) behind Abhyudaya Bank, in compound of Coop. Society building.

5. Mazgaon Dahi Handi: Tadwadi

6. Chembur Dahi Handi: (a) Khardev Nagar naka. (b) Shivaji Chowk, Pandjarpole circle, near where Dr.C.Gidwani Road meets V.N. Purav Marg.

7. Ghatkopar Dahi Handi: (a) Gangawadi maidan. (b) On the Ghatkopar-Goregaon Link Road, near the signal before Shreyas cinema theatre. (c) LBS Marg, near Life Force Center

8. Kurla Dahi Handi: Bail Bazaar, behind Sheetal Cinema.

9. Vikhroli Dahi Handi: Kannamwar Nagar No.3, near the bus stop.

10. Bhandup Dahi Handi: (a) Bhandup Village Road, Shiv Sena Shaka Office. (b) Gadhavnaka, Sanman Singh Road, ahead of Kokan Nagar Society. (c) Pratap Nagar, near junction of Pratap Nagar Road and Quarry Road.

11. Dombivili Dahi Handi:(a) Baji Prabhu Chowk, near junction of Kelkar Road and Manpada Road. (b) DNC maidan, near DNC Multipurpose High School, Nandivali Road. Note: at both places, lots of cash prizes being offered!

12. Bhiwandi Dahi Handi: Kalyan Bhiwandi naka.

13. Borivali Dahi Handi: (a) Devipada maidan, Boriviali (East); (b) Kajupada. (c) Kora Kendra maidan, opp. Parekh Nagar.

14. Thane Dahi Handi: This is where some of the biggest cash prizes are being offered depending on the number of tiers of the human pyramid. Special prizes for women govinda groups too! .(a) Vartak Nagar. (b) Sangarsh, Open House Panchpakahadi - at this venue, a special group of acrobats from Catalunya, Spain, known as the Colles Castelleres, will be competing with the local govindas. The Castelleras are a group of 175 members & are world famous for being skilled at making a 9 tier human pyramid.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

2011 Sophia College Mumbai Kaleidoscope events schedule

Kaleidoscope is the annual college festival event of Sophia College, Mumbai. It is scheduled to be held from August 23rd to August 28th 2011.

Besides literary, performing and fine arts events, there will be a few workshops too.


Workshops at 2011 Sophia College Kaleidoscope:
  • Jazz (2 participants)
  • Salsa (2 participants – 1 girl & 1 boy)
  • Chinese Language (2 participants)
  • Tarot Reading (2 participants)
  • Rapelling (2 participants)
  • Sumo wrestling & Judo (2 participants)
  • Contemporary Dance (2 participants)
  • Adventure (2 participants)


Literary Arts events at 2011 Sophia College Kaleidoscope: This group of events includes 2 events commonly found at most college festivals: J.A.M. (just a minute) event where the participants have to speak extempore on a given topic within 1 minute, and a GK Quiz (called Inquizzition). Besides these, there are some fun-filled unique events, such as a theme-based event in which finalists have to participate in a word-games race which includes a water-balloon fight! This team event, called L.A.Koncocted, involves 4 particpants. For those wanting to show off their lyric writing skills, there is ‘Wrap it in Rap’, a Hindi language event in which participants have to write lyrics for the elimination round & follow it up with a performance of the song in the final round. 2 particpants can take part as a team in this event. Then there is an offbeat event, in which you write an obituary based on a given theme. This is called ‘Deathnote to Love’.

Performing Arts events at 2011 Sophia College Kaleidoscope: As the name implies, participants have to perform – singing (separate event for Hindi), Indian contemporary dance, musical band event, stand up comedy, social issues drama performance, etc. Those wishing to showcase their script-writing talent should take part in ‘Teletales’, an event in which 6-8 participants write an original script for any famous TV show with 3 compulsory characters from that show and include 3 compulsory characters from any nursery rhymes. The performance must be limited to 6-8 minutes.

Fine Arts events at 2011 Sophia College Kaleidoscope: Lots of colour in the events of this category! Drawing, painting, cutting, pasting & photographic events too. One of the events involves creative use of waste with fevicol & cello tape being the other requirements. 2 participants can take part & they must make their creation within 3 hours.

Informals events at 2011 Sophia College Kaleidoscope: The highlight of this category of events, of course, is the crowning of Mr. & Ms. Kaleidoscope. There is a cooking event in addition to a coupled of sports-based events.

Crossovers events at 2011 Sophia College Kaleidoscope: This category includes events that are an amalgamation of literary arts, fine arts, and performing arts. For example, one event involves writing a script for the Literary Art round, then performing it, and in finally designing props to support the play. Interesting!

Note: there are a whole lot more events than those listed above!

Schedule





Contact Information of 2011 Sophia College Kaleidoscope
Sophia College for Women
Bhulabhai Desai Road,
Mumbai - 400026
Email ID:-
Executive Committee: kscope.sophiacollege@gmail.com
Hospitality: hospitality.kscope@gmail.com

Location Map & Bus routes of Sophia College Mumbai

Monday, August 15, 2011

Top 7 Krishna Janmashtami SMS Greetings Hindi English


Radha ki chahat, he Krishna,
Uske dil ki virasat, he krishna,
Chahe kitna bhi raa racha le krishna
Duniya to phir bhi yahi kehti hai
Radhe Krishna Krishna
Janmashtami ki haardik badai!


राधा  क़ी  चाहत  हे  क्रिष्णा,
उसके  दिल  क़ी  विरासत  हे  क्रिष्णा,
चाहे  कितना  भी  रा  रचा  ले  क्रिष्णा
दुनिया  तो  फिर  भी  यही  कहती  है
राधे  क्रिष्णा  क्रिष्णा
जन्माष्टमी  क़ी  हार्दिक  बधाई!
 ---------------------------------
 Yashoda ke Krishna Ki
Radha ke Shyam Ki
Gwalo ke Kanha Ki
Gopiyon ke Makhan Chor Ki
Janamdin ki hardik shubhkamnao ke sath!


यशोदा की क्रिष्णा की  
राधा की श्याम  की  
ग्वालो  के  कान्हा  की  
गोपियों  के  माखन  चोर  की 
जन्मदिन  की  हार्दिक  शुभकामनाओ  के  साथ!

 -------------------------------------------
Radha ki bhakti
Murli ki mithas
Makhan ka swaad aur gopiya ka raas
Inhi sabse milkebantha hai janmasthami ka ye din khas
Happy Janmasthami

राधा  की  भकति
मुरली  की  मिठास 
माखन  का  स्वाद  और  गोपिया का  रास 
इन्ही  सबसे  मिलके बनता है  जन्मस्थामी  का  ये  दिन  खास 
हैप्पी  जन्मस्थामी!
-------------------------------
 
Chandan ki khusbu,Resham ka haar
Phulon ki shugandh, Barish ki fhuhar
Dil ki ummide, Apno ka pyar…

Mangalmay ho aapko Sri Kirshna Janmashtmi ka tyohar

Happy Janmashtami!

चन्दन  की  खुसबू , रेशम  का  हार
फूलों 
की  सुगंध , बारिश  की  फ्हुहार
दिल  की  उम्मीदे , अपनों  का  प्यार …

मंगलमय  हो  आपको  श्री  किर्श्ना  जन्माष्टमी  का  त्यौहार

हैप्पी  जन्माष्टमी!


 ---------------------------


Dahi ki handi
Barish ka fuhar

Makhan churane aaye nandlal

Mubarak ho aapko janmastami ka tyohar!

दही  की  हंडी
बारिश  का  फुहार

माखन  चुराने  आये  नन्दलाल

मुबारक  हो  आपको  जन्मस्तामी  का  त्यौहार!
 -----------------------------------


 Chandan ki Khushbu, Resham ka Haar
Saawan ki sugandh Barish ki fuhar

Dil ki umidhein Kanhaiya ka pyar
Mubarak Ho apko Janmasthmi Ka Tyohaar!



चन्दन  की  खुशबु , रेशम  का  हार
सावन  की  सुगंध  बारिश  की  फुहार

दिल  की  उमीदें  कन्हैया  का  प्यार
मुबारक  हो  आपको  जन्मस्थ्मी  का  त्यौहार!
----------------------------------


Today is a very precious day
Someone special was born
Born to fight against inhumanity
Born to save the trust in God
Happy Janmashtami!

Read the Story of Lord Krishna's Birth: Janmashtami

Shubham Mangalmurti Arts Ganapati Idols unique forms

The images in this blog are of Ganapati idols created by Shubham Mangalmurti Arts, one of the many Ganapati idol makers in Mumbai. Note the wide variety of unique idols and the beautiful use of colours. The colours used make their idols stand out from the ones created by other idol makers. Hence, I think they deserve a blog post of their own!

The first image below is of Siddhivinayaka, the most revered form of Lord Ganesha. It is believed that Siddhivinayak bestows the wish prayed for.

Lord Siddhivinayak



When I first saw this idol, I clicked it as a unique depiction of Lord Ganesha as Lord Krishna.

The next day, there was a mirror placed behind and I saw .....

The front face of the idol depicts Lord Krishna, while the back face of the idol is Radha!!

 Bal Ganesha idols

Lord Ganesha seated on a drum


Lord Ganesha seated on a leaf, with the mouse beneath the leaf
Lord Ganesha seated on a lotus


Lord Ganesha depicted as Lord Venkateswara
Lord Ganesha seated in a lotus on the back of a tortoise (kurma)
 Story behind this idol: the tortoise is the second avatar of Lord Vishnu. In this avatar, Lord Vishnu balances Mount Mandara on his back while the Gods churn the ocean to obtain the drink for eternal life. In contemporary life, a figure of a tortoise is considered to be lucky as it brings stability, good health and longevity.


Lord Ganesha with the Bhagavad Gita, the holy book
Story behind this idol: Lord Ganesha penned down the words of the Mahabharata, which contains the Bhagavad Gita, as dictated to him by Sage Vyasa.


Lord Ganesha with canopy of a snake
Story behind this idol: Lord Krishna had killed a large poisonous serpent named Kalia. This is one of the origins of the festival of Nag Panchami.


Ganapati Bappa Morya!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Ganapti idol makers Dadar Mumbai


People book a Ganapati idol about 10-15 days prior to the grand welcoming home Lord Ganesha. This year, prices have increased considerably. For a 1 foot idol the price could be well over Rs.900/-. This blog post will help you to find out where to buy Ganapati idols for Ganesh Chaturthi.