Friday 10 October 2014

The run up to Diwali ~

Okay,  picture this.....
 A battalion of people armed with brooms, brushes and mops descending upon the house ; every nook and cranny of the house being spruced up and cleaned, floors scrubbed and waxed till they are squeaky clean, carpets and heavy rugs taken out, dusted, fluffed and hung out on railings festooning the terrace in order to be sunned, the windows and grilles washed, the walls white washed or painted, brass and silver ware polished to a shine, fresh flowers brightening the rooms and petals floating in uralis, lanterns and diyas prepared to be lit up on the final day, presents and gifts for family and friends bought and stacked in various corners and cupboards and the whole house a pot-pourri of aromas and essences.
In the kitchen, sweets and savouries bubbling over invitingly and cooks and family members busy preparing delicacies.... at the entrance and inside courtyards, every stone blooming with the colours and patterns of rangolis.
Yes, we are caught  right in the middle of the run up to Diwali. The countdown has begun and the air is infectious.

If you reside in India or happen to be visiting India this time of the year, you will surely feel the buzz. Why I say living in India, because then, it's not just your home but the entire neighbourhood that starts bustling with activities as the festive season approaches. My neighbourhood too, right now is going through an entire makeover. Even hedges are being pruned and the lawns are being mowed to perfection.
Every year I tell myself that I'm going to keep things very basic and simple for my own household this Diwali but this is only before I get caught in all the hullabaloo and find myself in the middle of some heavy duty arrangements . Well, this year, I AM going to stick to the basics for sure , at least that's the plan for now but this year I will indulge in some over- the -top mirror work decorations for sure. Mirror work on fabrics, that is. I have been collecting a lot of Kutchi patches with mirrors and embroidery and I'm going to be doing up my corners with them and use them as spreads and throws, wall hangings, cushion covers and whatever madness I can indulge in with them :D  Coupled with some fresh flowers and candles/ lanterns they will look quite nice. What say ?? Some of the patches and some flowery corners are already adorning my living room though we will have to wait for the lights and candles to come alive on the main day . Take a look and I'll see you after Diwali or maybe before that if I have something really nice to share ;)






























Also, lets go easy on the crackers and do our bit to save the environment. We, as a family follow the 'no crackers' policy except for a few packets of sparklers and flower pots . Even that will fade away gradually as the kids grow up I'm sure. Diwali is a festival of lights and beauty. Let's not spoil it with noise and pollution. Keep your kids and your pets safe and have a good one :)

23 comments:

  1. Beautiful pictures and décor as always Reshma! Your post is making me home sick now.. Have wonderful Diwali preparation.. Love your elephant vase.. where did you find this?

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    1. Thank you so much Prasanna. I'm glad you liked the post. The elephant vase is something I picked up from Delhi haat . It's actually a kettle that doubles up as a vase :)

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  2. What a riot of colors !!! You have an Envious collection of mirror work pieces.
    Your home looks fabulous Reshma.........
    and I didn't know Crepe myrtle grew in India.
    Hugs,
    Sruthi

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    1. Thanks Sruthi :) It's just something that I have been collecting over the years. Crepe Myrtle is called saawani ( synonymous with the month of saawan) in hindi and grows in abundance here during the monsoon/ rainy season. Now that the rains are over, it's on a decline ! Thanks for all the lovely words and thanks for stopping by :) Always great to hear from you !

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  3. So gorgeous!! Cant wait to see more!!

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    1. Thanks Harshika. Yes, I'll keep you guys updated on that :)

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  4. Awesome awesome!! It's eye candy all the way on the blog today Reshma... I can't wait to join in on the all festival hustle bustle Reshma. Love love the last pic!!

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    1. Thanks Nayana, yes I'm sure you will be able to do that soon :D Thanks a lot for the appreciative words :)

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  5. It all looks fabulous ! Cant wait to see your home all done up :-) Love and hugs.

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    1. Hello and thanks ! Waiting to see yours too :)

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  6. Loved the colors .....you really seem to be preparing for the festivities .

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    1. Hi Radhika, thanks for liking it and yes, the festivities are in full swing and it does get infectious :) Thanks for stopping by !

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  7. Another beautiful treat Reshma. LOVe the mirrorwork spread on the sandook. ADore how you've captured the dappled sunlight that plays with all your arrangements and makes me feel like I am there in your beautiful home:) Ruskin Bond is my all time favourite author as he hails from my part of the world- Dehradun/Mussoorie. Happy Diwali to you and your gorgeous family. Love. xx
    arti@artismoments.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you so much Arti. It's always great to hear from you and you really get into the picture, like you know what was on my mind when I clicked them, the play of shadows and light being one of them . Thank you for the appreciation and great you liked it. I love Ruskin Bond too . Never knew you belonged to that part of the world. It's beautiful :) Hugs ! And yes, you have a great Diwali too !

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  8. Pretty,pretty,pretty is all that I can say! Reshma, the clicks are something to die for! So very colourful!

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    1. Thank you Vandana :) Glad you liked them !

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  9. So very colorful! Beautiful and festive compositions!
    this post was a treat reshma.

    ~deepa

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    1. Thanks for the appreciation, Deepa. Glad you liked it and thanks for stopping by :)

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  10. It's so beautiful and pleasing to the eyes. Wow your home is truly a reflection of your personality. Lovely

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    1. Thanks Puja , so glad you liked it , thanks for the lovely words, always :)

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  11. Beautiful decoration and this shows your passion towards art. It is a gifted talent.

    Happy Diwali to you, to your family members and friends. Best wishes for your efforts.

    Please look into my Lamps of India post which i shared in my Heritage of India blog and give your comments for the same.

    http://indian-heritage-and-culture.blogspot.in/2013/09/lamps-of-india.html

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It's always good to get a feedback :)