Basant Panchmi

Basant means, "the spring season". This is the great spring festival, falling on the fifth day of the month of Magh, the first day of spring.

On this day people prefer to wear yellow clothes. It represents the ripening of the spring crops. Even the food is colored yellow by using saffron. Spiritually, the yellow color is a sign of prosperity and it is also considered as the color of love.

Children are taught their first words on this day (as an auspicious beginning to learning). Schools, colleges etc., (places of learning) organize special worship of Goddess Saraswati.

On this day we offer special worship to the Sun God, to Mother Ganga (the deity of the sacred river Ganges), and Mother Earth. They provide us the means of acquiring food and all that we need to keep alive. We express our gratitude to them by worshiping them on this day. Hindus are ever mindful of the debt they owe to all nature. Worship of nature is extremely important to them.

May this occasion of Basant Panchami bring the wealth of knowledge to you, May you be blessed by Goddess Saraswati and all your wishes come true. Aapno Store wishes you all the prosperity on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchmi.

Natural fiber Quilts versus Synthetic Fiber Quilts

You may think that a quilt with synthetic filling will be better than a naturally filled one, prefer the modern to the traditional. But you would probably feel differently if you got a chance to make a proper comparison.

User trials conducted by an independent market research company over a two month period showed that, given the chance to try sleeping under both natural and synthetic quilts, an amazing 75% of users said they preferred the natural quilts.

There are many reasons for this:

First, naturally filled quilts breathe in a way synthetic quilts cannot. So the moisture lost by your body while you sleep is absorbed overnight, and then gradually lost in the morning when the quilt is aired. When you sleep under a synthetic quilt, there is nowhere for that moisture to go resulting in a sticky feeling.

Second, natural quilts drape better round the lumps and bumps of your body than synthetics, which can be rather stiff. Because you can snuggle into it better, a natural quilt will usually feel warmer on a chilly night than a synthetic quilt of the same thickness, even if both are new.

Thirdly, a natural quilt will almost always be lighter than a synthetic one. Natural fillings bring warmth without weight, for a really comfortable, natural sleep.

Expression of ecstasy- MANDANA PAINTINGS

Rajasthan has succeeded in preserving its cultural identity even today. Art of embellishing the mud house with beautiful Manadana paintings is one such form of art which is done on the mud walls of houses and traditionally, colored glass, beads, mirrors and stones are also used to decorate these paintings.Mandana is a Rajasthani folk art of making Rangoli on festivals, wedding and other celebrations in home. The exteriors are decorated with traditional lime-paste “MANDANA” or rice-flour patterns which are almost redone daily by women from the village. The walls of floors are first covered with a mixture of red clay and cow dung. Then the images are painted on with white chalk, sometimes along with red ochre, using brushes made from local bamboo. Predominantly women have honed their Mandana painting skills. They are highly skilled & well educated in terms of their long & rich experiences. Shapes like squares, circles, triangles and the likes become the alphabets for an exercise in picture writing.

And ask them -what is the reason of these beautiful creations...you will get a quick & spontaneous response “Chokha Lage Che” (i.e. it feels good to make them)

Furniture and Wood Carving of Rajasthan by Aapno Store

Rajasthan is an ideal place to look for old-worldly doors and windows, wooden jharokhas, tables with cast iron jaalis, side-boards, chairs, benches, jhoolas or swings and dressers, sometimes fretted with brass and copper sheets for decoration. They can be lightly carved or embellished with tiles. Jaipur and Ramgarh in Shekhawati are popular centers for furniture but Jodhpur gets the first place. The notable places are Shekhawati and Bikaner for traditional woodwork, Jodhpur and Kishangarh for painted wooden furniture, Shekhawati, Bikaner and Ramgarh for delicately carved wooden doors, Barmer for woodcarvings such as images of gods and goddesses, elephants, parrots, human and animal figures, Tilonia for leather-embroidered chairs of Tilonia and Shekhawati for carved-back, string-bottom chairs. The most remarkable and finest type of artwork belongs to Bikaner. Known as Gesso work, it is made using the inner hide of the camel, which is scraped till it is paper-thin and translucent and is then molded into various forms of lampshades, hip flasks, perfume phials or vases. Aapno Store brings you an exclusive range of wooden furniture and carved articles personally handpicked by our experts. For more details log on to www.aapnostore.com

Celebrate Sawan with the Spring of Gifts from Aapno Store.

Shravan Mahina, or Sawan Month, is one of the holiest Hindu months and is dedicated to Lord Shiva in North India. Shravan month is filled with auspicious days and numerous rituals are observed in the month. The Shravan Month 2011 in traditional Hindu calendar followed in North Indiabegins on July 16 and ending date is August 13. Mondays in Shravan month which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and many people observe the famous Shravan Somvar Vrat. The famous teej festival is also observed in this sacred month. The married woman adorn themselves with solah shringaar, new jewellery lehariya saree, lacquer bangles and a like. At the time of Teej, certain rituals and customs are followed by women so as to be blessed by Goddess Parvati. Married women return back to their parents house to celebrate the festival . It is considered very auspicious for married and engaged women to receive Teej gifts from their parents-in-law and to be parents-in-law. Future in-laws of engaged girls gift them 'Shrinjhara' (a gift pack) which consists of henna, lac bangles, a special laheria dress and ghewar (a sweet dish). Other gifts are also received by women from their relatives and in-laws. Aapno Store being a rajasthani traditional store takes special care during this season of festival by offering all the products required during these festivals. We believe in serving those who are away from their family and wish to send their love in the form of gifts and goodies. With the help of Aapno Store online shopping you can send or receive all the rajasthani traditional stuff like Lehariya dupatta/saree, Bandhni, lacquer bangle, jewellery and gifts in just one click. The distance would never come in between your love, care and affection when you trust Aapno Store for all your shopping needs. www.aapnostore.com

Leheriya Sarees

Lahariya is the main attire of women of Jaipur especially in monsoon season during mid-July to august as it depicts the traditional aspect of Jaipur. Leheriya saris are the special part of Jaipuri sarees; which are available in various colors and printed designs.

It is usually worn in saavan utsav in rainy season. The design is like waves that are similar to the wind waves that flow in the monsoon season. Rajasthan produces a huge variety of colorful leheriya sarees, from geometrical patterns, flowers in colours deliberately contrasted with the background colour. The lehriya is an entire line of cloth which is dyed in different colours.

Lehriya sarees have been an all time fascination of women and monsoon is the best time to add more collection to your wardrobe from your very own Aapno Store.

Versatile Rajasthan Handicrafts at Aapno Store.

As far as Art and handicrafts Product concern Rajasthan is among the richest state in India. Silver Jewellery products, Gemstone Paintings, Leather Bags, Leather Wallets, Marble Handicrafts, and Painting Handicrafts are the most brilliant products from Rajasthani Handicraft. Rajasthan has created and preserved rich craft heritage which includes fabulous fabrics in lovely prints, precious and semi-precious stones, Kundan Meenakari Jewellery, embroidered leather work, other hand crafted items of wood, ivory, lac, glass, and brass, silver and gold.

When we talk about crafts of Rajasthan, how can we forget to discuss about the exquisite designs of Rajasthani wooden furniture. In different part of Rajasthan you can see carved wooden furniture having different styles and designs. Exquisite motif and design works on wooden furniture are eye-catching. The most famous work on wooden furniture in Rajasthan is the latticework.Jodhpur and Kishangarh are known places where from you can purchase carved casket, screens, doors, chairs, tables, shelf, etc.

The beautiful marble crafts of Rajasthan are very popular. These consist of carved wall hangings, beautiful sculptures, statues of gods & goddesses, furniture & tabletops, flower, vases, fireplaces, statues, etc in marble.

Leather items from Rajasthan are also popular. Particularly mojaris and jutis with beautiful embroidery work are loved among people. The pattern and design of embroidery varies from region to region. However, Jodhpur and Jaipur are the places known for beautiful mojaris and jutis.

Blue potteries of Rajasthan are popular form of exquisite Rajasthani handicrafts. Jaipur is perhaps the most known place for blue pottery in Rajasthan. To create blue potteries, green and white colors are mainly used.

Not only this, Rajasthan is full of exquisite handicraft and art. The List goes on with Textiles in Kantha work and embroidery, the earthen pottery, semi precious stone jewellery, laquer (Lac) bangles and jewellery etc

Aapno Store boasts of all these handicraft items which is just a click away from you. The products at Aapno Store are hand picked and sold at very reasonable price. All you need to do is just log on to www.aapnostore.com and enjoy shopping.