Monsoon Magic

It has been raining here this weekend.

Sharp showers and overcast skies made me want to share a few glimpses of what the monsoons mean to me…

Pitter-patter raindrops, as they create their own music

Lush, leafy green all around… and toadstools popping up here, there, everywhere

Bhuttas (corn on the cob) roasted over a charcoal fire to a golden yellow, with a dash of lime and masala

Colourful umbrellas on squelchy, waterlogged roads

And of course, everybody’s favourite – chai and pakoras (tea with vegetable fries)

Happy soaking this season!

Of Ganesha and other deities...

It is amazing where the internet takes you!.... Yesterday, while researching something on Lord Ganesha, the pot-bellied, sweet-loving Hindu deity who rides a rat (and happens to be one of my favourites from the divine family), I came across the Lotus Sculpture site.




By its own admission, Lotus Sculpture claims to be one of the finest proponents of “hand made statues of Hindu Gods and the Buddha”, and the visuals on their web pages stand testimony to that. Lotus Sculpture imports sculptures that are brought to life by artisans in south India, Bangladesh and Thailand.
Their warehouse is located in Connecticut and it is owned by the amazing Kyle Tortora. Go here to read more about him and his travels, especially to the parts of Asia from where he sources his statues and sculptures.

The Lotus Sculpture site also has a mine of information for the casual reader, and I admit (a trifle sheepishly, given my Indian roots) that I learnt quite a few mythological tales from here that I would have never known otherwise….

I thought of posting some of my favourites from the fabulous collection at Lotus Sculpture. Happy drooling, everyone!

All pictures in this post are taken from the Lotus Sculptures website.

Summer Roses

Juliet:"What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet."
Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

Couldn't help but remember these immortal lines from Shakespeare. Comes naturally, I guess, since I majored in English Literature all those ages back! And ShakesP has been a favourite.... One of my retirement wishes includes curling up in a comfy rocker with the Complete Works of the master.

Well, the pictures are from my mom's garden. And they remind me of another favourite - Kiss from a Rose by Seal. You can find the lyrics to this soulful, haunting number right here.

Happy crooning!