It's Navarathri time. And an excuse to indulge in festivities. I still miss the Dandiya nights of Mumbai when every housing society compound got lit up in lights and reverberated songs of the Goddess, and the Kolu of South - dolls galore that found their way from trunks to tables and benches that became steps for display.
Decking up for a festival where I live is a challenge, if not impossible. Flowers are a rarity unless they are part of bouquets. And bouquets, are super-expensive. I am not in the mood to celebrate festivals at home, but love it when I get invited over.
A little effort on, my hubby and I managed a visual treat for ourselves, replete with desi essence and grandeur.
For two weekends over Navarathri every year, Newark Avenue of Jersey City comes alive with a crowd, and is closed for traffic. What's so special did you ask? Newark Avenue is the official name for what is really India Street at Journal Square. Decked in desi lehengas, ghagra cholis and sarees, hundreds descend on the street these two weekend nights for a party. Kids, parents, grandparents, young men and women, tourists...Americans who love a dose of Indian culture...
An orchestra, aarti for the Goddess and loads of sponsors from this retail hub for Indian clothes, foods and other products. And a free walk-in to the street unlike ticketed Dandiya Raas events elsewhere in New Jersey State and the US.
And a shot of the deity that I managed, jostling in the crowd. Aarti time is break time for dandiya revelers.
A group of friends poses for a picture (photographer on the other side). And then resumes the party. We're talking post 12 am!
Does this look any different at all from an Indian street? Am reminded so much of Commercial Street in Bangalore.
The crowds below are a matter of envy. I chatted with a couple who travelled from Secaucus. ``It's the only street in entire US where people do this,'' said Jayesh Balsara.
``We have been visiting here last four years. Before that, the scale was smaller. People dance in the cold, in rain, even if it snows,'' says Neha Balsara, his wife. Their daughter was out there on the street with friends, dancing. What a happy site it was! To see a street cordoned off, with huge crowds in colourful costumes!
On the cold night, people decked up in their finery, but covered up in a jacket or winter coat nevertheless.
Prior to the Dandiya night events, this street's umpteen clothes stores get decked up with the colourful dresses, hanging outside their doors, just like it happens in my home cities of Mumbai and Bangalore.
We travelled to Jersey City from Edison, but not before catching up with some home fervour at my friend's place in North Brunswick. Gombe Habba, Navarathri Kolu, Bommala Kolu, the names are many. And creativity, inifinite.
Kolu is the doll exhibition of the many Hindu Gods and Goddesses in neatly arranged steps that are covered ideally in a white cloth. Most dolls are made of clay. Many homes also make space for a little park spread out on the floor. A recent trend has been to use some space for displaying kids' toys such as cars, Barbies, and the like. My friend Prema and her family converted their basement room into the temporary display room.
Here are pictures from my dear friend's home:
Note the lovely aquarium that they did not disturb, and adds its dash to the space! Steps are usually arranged in odd numbers, three, five, seven, nine or more...if you do not have ready-made wood shelves, it takes all your resourcefulness to muster up something to show for steps. The result however is rewarding.
The `park' is usually placed by the side of the Kolu in other homes. Here, it makes for a lovely base step.
Saraswati, the Goddess of learning has gone straight on to the second step, with her books. The quite learning baby or student picture that would not quite form part of traditional displays looks the most perfect companion for the Goddess here.
Below the lovely Durga applique, is the cute set of Patta Gombe or wooden dolls that are a must in most homes with doll display.
Back home, my mother had a little collection of saints clay dolls such as that of Swami Vivekananda, Raghavendra, Sai Baba. I added one of Tukaram, from one my trips to Belgaum, and also that of emperor Shivaji.
Here, it is Gandhiji and a charkha that find place! Wow.
And here is a picture, of a part of the park, with a mini zoo.
Some craft work by a little one comes in handy too, in the form of these tea lights made of paper.
But the one that takes the cake of all, is what I call `Organic eggs turned chefs!'
Aren't they cute!
The weekend did its bit to set me off on creativity dreams, thanks to loving friends who made it all possible. Prayerfully yours!!!
Pictures: Radhika M B
Related post: Navaraatri South Style
Write to me if you want pictures that are not watermarked.
Thank you Prema!
Decking up for a festival where I live is a challenge, if not impossible. Flowers are a rarity unless they are part of bouquets. And bouquets, are super-expensive. I am not in the mood to celebrate festivals at home, but love it when I get invited over.
A little effort on, my hubby and I managed a visual treat for ourselves, replete with desi essence and grandeur.
For two weekends over Navarathri every year, Newark Avenue of Jersey City comes alive with a crowd, and is closed for traffic. What's so special did you ask? Newark Avenue is the official name for what is really India Street at Journal Square. Decked in desi lehengas, ghagra cholis and sarees, hundreds descend on the street these two weekend nights for a party. Kids, parents, grandparents, young men and women, tourists...Americans who love a dose of Indian culture...
An orchestra, aarti for the Goddess and loads of sponsors from this retail hub for Indian clothes, foods and other products. And a free walk-in to the street unlike ticketed Dandiya Raas events elsewhere in New Jersey State and the US.
A kid was kind enough to pose for me, with her kolattam sticks.
The event is not complete without a soulful aarti. The aarti sung here was very soulful, in spite of notes that went awry in the song.
These are pictures of the aarti being performed before the canopy of the Goddess. In the rear is the stage for singers, sponsor announcements and the like. One of the singers in the pictures below, is someone who sees with his heart, not eyes!
And a shot of the deity that I managed, jostling in the crowd. Aarti time is break time for dandiya revelers.
``We have been visiting here last four years. Before that, the scale was smaller. People dance in the cold, in rain, even if it snows,'' says Neha Balsara, his wife. Their daughter was out there on the street with friends, dancing. What a happy site it was! To see a street cordoned off, with huge crowds in colourful costumes!
On the cold night, people decked up in their finery, but covered up in a jacket or winter coat nevertheless.
Prior to the Dandiya night events, this street's umpteen clothes stores get decked up with the colourful dresses, hanging outside their doors, just like it happens in my home cities of Mumbai and Bangalore.
We travelled to Jersey City from Edison, but not before catching up with some home fervour at my friend's place in North Brunswick. Gombe Habba, Navarathri Kolu, Bommala Kolu, the names are many. And creativity, inifinite.
Kolu is the doll exhibition of the many Hindu Gods and Goddesses in neatly arranged steps that are covered ideally in a white cloth. Most dolls are made of clay. Many homes also make space for a little park spread out on the floor. A recent trend has been to use some space for displaying kids' toys such as cars, Barbies, and the like. My friend Prema and her family converted their basement room into the temporary display room.
Here are pictures from my dear friend's home:
The `park' is usually placed by the side of the Kolu in other homes. Here, it makes for a lovely base step.
Saraswati, the Goddess of learning has gone straight on to the second step, with her books. The quite learning baby or student picture that would not quite form part of traditional displays looks the most perfect companion for the Goddess here.
Below the lovely Durga applique, is the cute set of Patta Gombe or wooden dolls that are a must in most homes with doll display.
Back home, my mother had a little collection of saints clay dolls such as that of Swami Vivekananda, Raghavendra, Sai Baba. I added one of Tukaram, from one my trips to Belgaum, and also that of emperor Shivaji.
Here, it is Gandhiji and a charkha that find place! Wow.
And here is a picture, of a part of the park, with a mini zoo.
Some craft work by a little one comes in handy too, in the form of these tea lights made of paper.
But the one that takes the cake of all, is what I call `Organic eggs turned chefs!'
Aren't they cute!
The weekend did its bit to set me off on creativity dreams, thanks to loving friends who made it all possible. Prayerfully yours!!!
Pictures: Radhika M B
Related post: Navaraatri South Style
Write to me if you want pictures that are not watermarked.
Thank you Prema!
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