Kantha Embroidery: Emotions of an artist.

Kantha embroidery involves a simple running stitch. It is the way the embroidery has been used that makes it extra ordinary. The cloth is given layers that were kept together by the stitches. The cloth has multiple uses. It could be used to sleep on or as a light blanket. Kantha is said to be “Dorukha” meaning turning the worn out and old textiles and fabrics to things of beauty.
Kantha evolved out of necessity to drape or protect against cold. Kantha in Sanskrit means rags. It can rightly be called the recycling art. The precious silks and muslins when become worn out, women instead of throwing them away, piled them in layers and stitched. This Kantha work became very much popular and generated huge demand for itself in the fashion world due to its attractive designs and art. Kantha was also said to be lady’s self expression. The real Kantha narrates a story, the emotions and the life of the artist.
Aapno store travelled through the special zones of Rajasthan to explore the best of Kantha work textiles for you. Kantha work textiles at Aapno Store are exclusive and are very rare to find in the local markets.
Check out the Kantha work bed spreads, pillow-covers, cushion covers, dress materials and much more only at Aapno Store. www.aapnostore.com

Sanganeri Print of Rajasthan.

Rajasthan is famous in India for its dyeing, printing and embroidery cloth since centuries. Floral, geometrical or animal motifs are major designs of printing. Sanganer is about 8 kilometers south-east of Jaipur. It is famous for dyeing and printing of colorful dresses, bed sheets, curtains, dress material and variety of other textiles. Sanganer is the center for block and screen printed cotton cloth. There are at present, about 125 hand block printing units in Sanganer. Sanganer was renowned for its small decorative and delicate floral patterns, which was printed on fine cotton and silk.

Aapno Store brings you a wide range of fabrics which include bed sheets, quilts, kurtis, dress materials and much more. Aapno Store has handpicked this collection directly from the manufacturing units in Sanganer.

The fascinating range of block-printed fabric in bold colors may be further embellished by embroidery. The sanganeri block prints usually consist of floral motif. Basic colors are scarlet, black and brown. But now, with increasing technology and use of synthetic dyes, unusual combinations of scarlet and pink, purple and orange, turquoise and green gaining market demand. The sanganer prints are always on a white background famous for its artistry and intricacy of design.

Check out this fascinating collection of Sanganeri prints only at Aapno Store.

Dhanteras

Dhanteras marks the first day of five-days-long Diwali Festival. Dhanteras Festival, also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari Triodasi, falls on the auspicious thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik (October/November). In the word Dhanteras, "Dhan" stands for wealth. On Dhanteras Goddess Laxmi is worshiped to provide prosperity and well being. Hence Dhan Teras holds a lot more significance for the business community.

A very interesting story about Dhanteras Festival says that once the sixteen year old son of King Hima was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage as per his horoscope. On that particular fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband's boudoir and lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. And she went on telling stories and singing songs.

When Yama, the god of Death arrived there in the guise of a Serpent his eyes got blinded by that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the Prince's chamber. So he climbed on top of the heap of the ornaments and coins and sat there whole night listening to the melodious songs. In the morning he quietly went away. Thus the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of "Yamadeepdaan" and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yam, the god of Death.

According to another popular legend, when the gods and demons churned the ocean for Amrit or nectar, Dhanavantri (the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu) emerged carrying a jar of the elixir on the day of Dhanteras.

To mark the auspicious day, houses and business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colorful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights.

On Dhanteras Hindus consider it auspicious to purchase gold or silver articles or at least one or two new utensils. It is believed that new “Dhan” or some form of precious metal is a sign of good luck. "Laxmi-Puja" is performed in the evenings when tiny Diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. "Bhajans"-devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are also sung.

Dhanteras is celebrated with gusto and enthusiasm. "Lakshmi-Puja" is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. Bhajans ir devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung and "Naivedya" of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya.

In villages cattle are adorned and worshiped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshiped on this day.

Karva Chauth

The traditional Indian calendar is one long pageant of colorful festivals, a colorful mosaic of festivals, fairs and fasts as diverse as the land itself. The festival and fast of Karva Chauth is celebrated with much exuberance and fanfare. It is considered an important and auspicious day for married women. A married woman celebrates this day with great fervor and dedication, by observing a fast and praying for the long life of her husband. The fast is observed during the month of Kartik on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha (descending moon). This generally falls in the month of October. This year Karwa Chauth is on October26, 2010

The earliest reference of a Karva Chauth can be found in the great epic of Mahabharata. As per Mahabharata, Arjun, a supreme warrior and one of the Pandavas, went to the Nilgiri Hills to offer his prayers and worship the gods. Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, was accompanying him. On the way, Draupadi was struck with fear believing that she was alone in the forest with no one to protect her. As she treated Lord Krishna as her Brother, she invoked him to appear before her and help her out of this grave situation.

On listening to her fear and perplexity, Lord Krishna cited an example of Goddess Parvati. Parvati in a similar situation asked Lord Shiva's help. Lord Shiva explained to her that to ward off such apprehensions, a woman could observe a fast on Kartik Krishna Chaturthi as a remedy. Lord Krishna advised Draupadi to undertake this fast and also assured her of he victory of the Pandavas. Women also pray to Lord Ganesha for the fulfillment of all their wishes.

The fast has all the trappings of festivity. In Rajasthan, Women dress up in their best finery, with henna-decked hands, bindis, colorful bangles, vermilion in their hair-parting and the best of jewelery. However, they do not eat even a morsel of food, neither drink a drop of water, from dawn till the moon rises. Finally, when the moon is sighted, the wife goes out to view it. The moon is worshiped and then she turns to view her husband's face through the pores of a sieve, praying for his long life. After performing the puja, its finally time for food.

Diwali Diyas

Diwali or Deepawali is the festival of lights and sweetness. It is basically a symbol of the victory of good over evil, brightness over darkness, and truth over falsity. Each and every legend associated with this fabulous festival gives the same message. The thick dark new-moon (Amavasya) night on which the Diwali festival is celebrated, seems like a full-moon (Purnima) night, because of the effulgent light of numerous diyas or deepaks lighted on this night. These diyas not only make Diwali, the festival of lights, but they also symbolize the supremacy and consequence of brightness over darkness. The same message is given by the Hindu Upanishads by saying, “Asato Ma Sadgamaya”. The lighted diyas on Diwali also remind us of the same teaching of the Upanishads.

Diya can be defined as a small earthen lamp that is specially lit on Diwali for pujan and decoration purposes. A cotton wick is used in diyas, and oil or ghee serves as the burning fuel. Diyas are plain and colored, big and small, simple and fancy, and so. Different types of diyas are appropriate for different applications.

As the festive season approaches near, markets get flooded with various types of gifts, decoration, and puja items. The crafted and designer diyas are one of the big attractions in such markets. Diyas embellished with zari, painted patterns, mirrors, etc. are quite enticing by their very appearance.

Aapno Store brings you a multitude of handcrafted items made by ceramic and handicraft artists throughout the Rajasthan. Diwali diyas are one of the major attractions this festive season. Aapno Store showcase beautifully handcrafted multicolored and vibrant colored diyas.

However old may be the tradition of diyas on Diwali, it has never lost its significance and charm. Diwali celebrations are incomplete and graceless without the use of Diwali diyas. There is no doubt, diyas were, are, and will remain a significant part of the Diwali festival.

“Warm and Cozy” Rajasthani Quilts.

Rajasthani quilts are a specialty of Jaipur in Rajasthan, the desert region of north-west India. Nobody quite knows when and how this mini marvel came into being. Why did Rajasthan alone become the home of this unique form of winter covering when quilts were common all over? Certain factors seem to have played a part, the inhospitable desert terrain, the bitter winter and the age-old Rajasthani penchant for being constantly on the move. Sundown in winter always sent the temperatures plummeting among the dunes. For those who stayed home, there was warmth enough but to many a Rajasthani male, home was none other than the dunes themselves with only the sky for cover. Princes and chieftains on the warpath, soldiers in the saddle, banjaras (gypsies), bhopas (itinerant bards), shepherds, traders, camel caravans rolling along the featureless sands on private business all needed something to keep the chill out without adding significantly to their saddle bags. And some genius who remains unsung to this day found the perfect answer in the Jaipuri quilt.

Aapno Store brings you a wide range of Stylish and comfortable Quilts. All the quilts are of beautiful and exclusive designs. Their elegancy would add a style and beauty to your décor. Made in variety of colors, style, fabrics and threads these quilts by Aapno Store would bring special touch to your emotions.

Puppetry - Ancient Form of Merriment

Rajasthani Puppets are string marionettes that originate from the state of Rajasthan in India. The puppets are controlled by a single string that passes from the top of the puppet over the puppeteers. Characteristic to this form are the shrill voices produced by the lead puppeteer which are spoken through a bamboo reed. The art of Rajasthani puppetry (also called Kathputli) originated a thousand years ago when the Bhatt community began to practice this art. Puppetry is one of the most costly medium of entertainment, it involve activities like drawing, painting, wood carving, carpentry, plaster cast making, clay modeling, costume designing, story, script writing, dramatization, song and music composition.

Patronised by many ruling families in the state, it soon grew into a major art form of the region. Due to the invasion of Rajasthan by the Mughals, Kathputli gradually lost its importance. It has been one of the oldest forms of entertainment. Historically, these puppets were not only a source of entertainment, but also provided moral and social education. The shows tackled problems like the dowry system, women's empowerment, illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, and cleanliness. These puppet shows made people aware of the social problems that everybody was facing and also showed ways of solving them.