Of temples (or places of prayer)

I really admire people who are so regular to go to places of prayer to pray to god each day. I am not really a temple person, however I find the places of worship, specially if those are ornate and artistic very amusing.

Many old temples that have stone pillars with carving and a simple dome have a rustic charm of their own. The small inner rooms where the main idol is located are normally dark with small door and smaller windows. Those would have only one or two oil lamps that would light up the idol's face. It's very mysterious and alluring.



The enormous churches that I saw in Europe and St. Petersberg are like feasts for art lovers with the huge paintings and mosaics they have inside as well as outside. Extremely beautiful and artistic take on religion and mythology.



One thing that I love to keep looking for from my car while in South india whether chennai or bangalore are these small temples along the roadside. Though small, they contain a huge collection of idols of gods and goddesses put very aesthetically on the domes of these temples. Though in earlier times those might have been of stone carving, the newer temples seem to have those made from plaster of Paris. The arch that welcomes you inside the temple would also be as ornate. These idols would have a great combination of vibrant bright colours like the yellows, reds, greens, blues and so on. The spread of colours and the number of these idols would take the beauty quotient of the temple domes multi fold. It's pleasing to eyes and satisfying.



The temples in Konkan that I have seen seem to have wooden carved pillars, while the dome has design but not detailed one. Those again are coloured beautifully.



They say you get a lot of positive energies from temples due the blessings of The Lord or prayers of devotees. To me the wonderful art showcase simply enhances the appeal and brings more joy and peace to mind.

Ganesha! How I admire your varied forms!

As I pass by the idol making workshops of lord Ganesha, getting those ready for the upcoming festivities, my mind relishes on some really fond memories of the festival and brings smile on my face.



I am always awestruck by the enormous diversity of forms in which the Ganesha idols are made. Ever since my childhood, I have seen and admired so many of those. Though the smaller idols that we bring home and worship every year more or less remain the same for religious reasons, the god does not seem to mind donning different forms every year.


I have seen huge idols made up of right from many coconuts to many bottles, many sweets to fruits or flowers. We see Ganesha in the form of all other gods as well, as Krishna, shiva, and so on. No god or goddess form is untouched by artistes to give to lord Ganesha. Last year based on a tv serial's popularity resulted in Ganesha idols as lord malhar and this year's blockbuster bahubali has made Ganesh idols to lift shivling on his shoulder! Simply amazing.




The god seems to be taking it all in its stride. From a tiny shape carved on a beetle nut to sky touching huge idols, from a shape made out of a hibiscus flower to that of Many names of The Lord, from being seated on flowers, peacock, animals to thrones, it all seems adorable and magical.

One of my favorite things during the Ganesha festival used to be drawing a rangoli with the newest form of Ganesha that has shown up in the newspaper that day.


Just a few strokes of lines and the shape taking a meaning of the god's idol is really a wonderful and unique thing. No wonder Ganesha is so popular among the artists. The possibilities for drawing Ganesha as an art form are enormous and only limited by one's imagination. The many forms clubbed with creativity of minds creates an awesome effect.

While I continue admiring the roadside idols in making and wait for the processions to show up the huge idols, here is a shout out to our favourite bappa, "Amchya ghari lavakar ya"! (Come soon to my home!)