10 Dec
Ms. Varsha Belgal, had sent me the rangolis in July 2009. Her mother had sent her the rangolis to be drawn each day of the week. I had asked Varsha to send me the significance of these rangolis. I never heard back from Varsha again. This rangolis were in my draft for more than 3 years now. So, finally decided to post it as is.
Thanks so much, Varsha for the rangolis. Click on the image to see a bigger and better quality picture.
7 Dec
Our Guru Sree Madhvacharya has explained in his Tantrasara that “ಪೂಜ್ಯಶ್ಚ್ಹ ಭಾಗವನ್ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಚಕ್ರಾಬ್ಜಾ ಮಂಡಲೇ”. In English “Poojyascha Bhagavan
nityam chakraabjamandale”. Worshiping the Almighty Lord with Chakrabja Mandala – ಚಕ್ರಾಬ್ಜ ಮಂಡಲ as a pedestal or peetha is very rewarding.
So, what is the meaning of Chakrabja Mandala – ಚಕ್ರಾಬ್ಜ ಮಂಡಲ?
I had learnt to draw this when I came to the US several years back from my Brother-in-law Balaji’s ( my sister Suma’s husband) grandmother who was here in the US.
However, due to several reasons this rangoli had completely skipped my mind and I forgot drawing this. During the Shravana Masa, my Little Niece Shwetha, you all know her right? The one who drew our beloved Raghavendra Swamigalu had drawn this for Sree Anantha Padmanabha Vrata. My Sister showed it to me when I visited her house for the festival.
You can see the picture Shwetha has drawn in the picture below, I have a red/yellow arrow pointing to the same. There are two, one exactly below the table, and the other can’t be seen since the God is on top of the rangoli.
I came back home and started searching the drawing online, to find none. Accidentally I opened the “ಸಾಧನ ದೀಪಿಕಾ or Sadhana Deepika” book I had, and there it was the Rangoli. It is customary to draw this while performing pooje, and than place the Lord or any God you are performing pooje on top of this rangoli.
I will post a step by step instruction on how to draw this Chakrabja Mandala – ಚಕ್ರಾಬ್ಜ ಮಂಡಲ soon. For the time being attached below are images of the same.
1. This image is from my “ಸಾಧನ ದೀಪಿಕಾ or Sadhana Deepika” book.
2. This image is from SBAT temple. Details of the temple can be found here. Scroll down in the page, and you will see several images. http://sbat.org/Poojas_Homas.html.
28 Oct
Ms. Padma sreeranga has sent me amazing youtube links to the making of a 100 year old doll. Ms. Padma writes to me as follows:
Dear Meera,
28 Oct
Yesterday evening we visited the Iskcon Temple in DC. We visit the temple every year for the Dasara celebrations. This year it was celebrated on October 27th 2012.
There were hundreds of people, lots of activities for kids like Face Painting, Mahendi, Ramayana Play. Lots of food.
Attached below are some pictures I took during yesterday’s visit.
23 Oct
I had requested everyone to send their Dasara Bombe Pictures. Attached below are pictures from around the world I received.
1. Dasara Bombe at my home.
2. My Sister Suma’s Dasara Bombe:
3. Padmaja Rao has sent a google link for her Dasara Bombe:
4. Madhukar KR – Photo of the “Pattada Bombe” along with Kalasha – keeping up the Mysore Aramane tradition in a small way in Bangalore – Space, Time and Doll Constraints
5. Dasara Bombe at Nagesh.H
6. Bombe Habba at Sreenidhi BR
7. Ms. Bhavana Damle shares Doll display at her friend Vidya’s home.
8. Ms. Bhavana Damle shares a picture of Special decoration for Goddess Durga in a temple at Annapurneshwari Nagar, Bengaluru.
9. Rama Gopal has sent this picture.
18 Oct
Based on our Hindu calendar, during the 7th day or the 8th day we perform Saraswathi Pooja. Goddess Saraswathi is the mother of all knowledge, wisdom and learning. She plays the veena instrument. She is a lover of music. This year Saraswathi Pooja is on October 21st – Sunday.
During dasara, on this day, books and instruments are placed before Saraswathi, and we perform pooja to her.
We say the following sloka or prayer to her, and I should mention that this is one of the first payers we learnt in our family, and I guess is being learnt in any Hindu family.
Saraswathi Namasthubyam,
Varadey Kaamarupinee!
Vidhyarambham Karishyami,
Sidhir bhavathu mey sada
It means:
Oh Goddess, Saraswathi, my humble salutations to you, who are the fulfiller of all my wishes. I start my studies with the request that thou will bestow Thy blessings on me.
My mom used to make Sweet dosa when we were Kids.
So, here comes the recipe with minor changes and also pictures.
In a bowl mix 1 cup wheat flour, 1/2 cup rice flour, 1/2 cup maida. Add two cups of brown sugar, 4-5 tbsp coconut, and cardamom, and also cinnamon powder as desired. I also added 1/2 tsp baking soda. Make a batter as you do for Dosa. As shown below:
Heat a non stick pan, apply oil, and spread the dosa batter. When one side is done, turn over the other side as well.
P.S: I prepared a small batch, and it took me less than 20 minutes to prepare 11 dosas. I have a big non-stick pan, and was able to prepare 2 dosas at a time. The heat was medium.
The dosas were sweet, and you could feel the taste of cinnamon and also cardamom. Definitely good to eat once a year. 
12 Oct
Dasara is celebrated all over India as a religious as well as a social festival. Nava means nine and rathri means night and so Navarathri means nine nights. Some call it as Navarathri, some as Vijaya Dashami, and some as Dussehra. Doesn’t matter what you call, does it?
This year Dasara is celebrated from October 16th – 24th 2012.
From day one of the festival, it is customary to keep a Kalasha (ಕಲಶ), this is filled with water(ನೀರು) and 4 betel leaves(ವೀಳೆದೆಲೇ) are arranged as shown below in the pictures.Apply Haldi (ಆರಿಶಿನ) , Kumkum(ಕುಂಕುಮ), and flowers, gejje vastra (ಗೆಜ್ಜೆ ವಸ್ತ್ರ) as shown again. This Kalasha is kept in front of the Pattada Gombe (ಪಟ್ಟದ ಗೊಂಬೆ) which is given during the marriage to the bride. This ಪಟ್ಟದ ಗೊಂಬೆ signifies Lord Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavathi. Again, see pictures below. These ಪಟ್ಟದ ಗೊಂಬೆ are decorated with different jewelery, crown, bangles, dresses every few years.
If you are keeping an elaborate Gombe (Dolls), than the Kalasha and the Pattada Bombe are placed on the top shelf. And all other arrangements follow next.
Even though all the 10 days and nine nights are important, there are a few major days where pooja is done with great devotion and pomp.
Those days are as follows:
Devotional Songs for Dasara:
2. Sri Venkateshwara Suprabhatha
9. Sri Srinivasa Kalyana by Sri Vadirajaru
10. Mahishasura Mardini Stotra in different languages
12. Link to Bombe Habba pictures
P.S: If you would like to share pictures of Gombe Habba (Doll Arrangement’s ) at your place, or friends place send them along. I will post them so everyone will have an idea of how to decorate their dolls this year.
25 Sep
Dasara is celebrated all over India as a religious as well as a social festival. Nava means nine and rathri means night and so Navarathri means nine nights. Some call it as Navarathri, some as Vijaya Dashami, and some as Dussehra. Doesn’t matter what you call, does it?
This year Dasara is celebrated from September 28th – October 6th 2011.
From day one of the festival, it is customary to keep a Kalasha (ಕಲಶ), this is filled with water(ನೀರು) and 4 betel leaves(ವೀಳೆದೆಲೇ) are arranged as shown below in the pictures. Apply Haldi (ಆರಿಶಿನ) , Kumkum(ಕುಂಕುಮ), and flowers, gejje vastra (ಗೆಜ್ಜೆ ವಸ್ತ್ರ) as shown again. This Kalasha is kept in front of the Pattada Gombe (ಪಟ್ಟದ ಗೊಂಬೆ) which is given during the marriage to the bride. This ಪಟ್ಟದ ಗೊಂಬೆ signifies Lord Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavathi. Again, see pictures below. These ಪಟ್ಟದ ಗೊಂಬೆ are decorated with different jewelery, crown, bangles, dresses every few years.
P.S: The above pictures were taken in 2009 during my visit to Bangalore, at my second brother-in-law and co-sister Madhav Rao and Prameela’s house.
If you are keeping an elaborate Gombe (Dolls), than the Kalasha and the Pattada Bombe are placed on the top shelf. And all other arrangements follow next.
Even though all the 10 days and nine nights are important, there are a few major days where pooja is done with great devotion and pomp.
Those days are as follows:
Devotional Songs for Dasara:
2. Sri Venkateshwara Suprabhatha
9. Sri Srinivasa Kalyana by Sri Vadirajaru
10. Mahishasura Mardini Stotra in different languages
12. Link to Bombe Habba pictures
P.S: If you would like to share pictures of Gombe Habba (Doll Arrangement’s ) at your place, or friends place send them along. I will post them so everyone will have an idea of how to decorate their dolls this year.
14 Oct
Smt. Padmini of Coimbatore has yet another amazing rangoli designed for this year Dasara. Smt. Padmini’s rangoli has been published in “The Hindu” newspaper as well. I received a request forwarded by my Sister to post the Rangoli on this blog from Ms. Manjula. To quote from her email
This years Rangoli and a picture of my mother-in-law Kolu. This year she made Rangoli of Veda Vyas teaching Madhvacharya in Badri. They have published her Kolu and Rangoli in
“THE HINDU’ dated 14th October , Coimbatore edition. Just very proud of her and passing along few pictures. I will be updating the details of all the Kolu artwork in website and then email you all.
Attached below is the rangoli and also the link to the Hindu Newspaper as well.
What an art, and what an amazing rangoli.
Thanks so much for sharing Smt. Padmini and Ms. Manjula. I am sure the millions who visit this blog will be delighted to see this, just like I was.
12 Oct
It is customary to listen to Sree Srinivasa Kalyana during Dasara. My father said he was visiting Jaynagar 4th block Raghavendra Swamt Mutt every evening to listen to the same. I get these daily updates from several lists I have subscribed, one such list email I received had live webcast of the same on Uttaradimatt.org.
I logged in today, and felt so happy to listen to the same. The audio and video is just amazing. The time is 9.00 AM EST (Eastern Standard Time), and 6.30 PM IST(Indian Standard Time).
Million thanks to the webmaster and everyone who has organized this event to be published live.
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