Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Comfort In Rituals

India Sketch Journal 2013 Aug 14 by Meera Rao

Any event usually starts with a prayer to Lord Ganesha -the god who is the remover of all obstacles. This plate with clarified butter - ghee, and the special spoon was used in a ceremony, Homa, asking for blessings- at the start of the festivities, about a week before my niece's wedding. All the rituals are filled of symbolism and are beautiful --even though in this day and age they seem long! But it forces one to stop and give thanks as well as contemplate our role in the Universe. 

I loved the patterns, reflections in the plate, shapes and the colors and had to sketch it. I wish I could have captured the sound of the melodious chanting of the prayers too.

India Sketch Journal 2013 Aug 15 by Meera Rao

August 15 is India's Independence day and Jan 26 is Republic day when you see Indian flags flying everywhere.  Here, an autoriksha driver is attaching the  flag to his vehicle to show his patriotism.  The already colorful vehicles decorated with the tricolor flags are sight to behold. 

India Sketch Journal 2013 Page 35 by Meera Rao

4 comments:

padmaja said...

Very beautifully depicted Meera, I am a great fan of homa and believe deeply in the rituals that are attached to it.Have you observed how the background while looking through the high flames keep dancing!

Krishna/കൃഷ്ണ said...

beautiful painting... last one is great

thanks

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Padmaja! Yes, maybe someday, I will be brave enough to attempt to capture it on paper :)

Meera Rao said...

Krishna, thanks! Always makes me glad when a sketch captures the essence :)

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