Nine nights of decked up dolls – Navaratri

astalakshmi for Navaratri

OMG, September is here and with it another Navaratri. I feel as though I just finished designing last year’s display and this year’s Golu is just 1 day away. Time literally flies!!
Now for the uninitiated, Navaratri (meaning 9 nights) is a Hindu festival that celebrates the Feminine power and the triumph of Goddess Durga. People in different parts of India, celebrate is differently and you can find my previous posts on navaratri here. In the west people have Garbha and Dandiya dance programmes (where they dance with sticks and pots), In the east we have Durga Puja, in central India we have Ravana Vad and finally in the South we keep a display of dolls called Golu or bommai golu (display of Dolls) for nine days and nine nights.
Every year I do a thematic display, Last year’s was Vishwaroopam or Infinite Manifestation, this year the theme is “Craft” and I am displaying 70+ types of crafts from pottery to basketry to weaving and my house looks as if hit by a tornado :P. I will post pictures once the display is put up.
But no matter what the theme is, There are a few set of dolls (usually made of clay or paper machie) which always find their way to the shelves or Golu padi (steps).  Among these, the most popular are are the Dashavatar and Asthalakshmi. So before I show you Golu pics, I will show pictures of jewelry inspired by golu 😀 Fist Up –

Asthalakshmi – meaning 8 forms of wealth

Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth and Wife of Lord Vishnu. The eight forms of wealth in this context are Adhi lakshmi – Primeval strength
Dhana lakshmi – Money 
Dhanya lakshmi – food
Dhairya lakshmi – courage
Gaja lakshmi – animal wealth/cattle; Royal power
Santhana lakshmi – Children
Vijaya lakshmi – victory
vidhya lakshmi – Knowledge

Asthalakshmi necklace for Navaratri

In my necklace I have used Eight images of Lakshmi In the tanjore painting style set in resin in antique brass bezels representing eight forms of wealth and prosperity. The pendants are braided into the golden cords which are wire wrapped like a cage to take the weight at the same time fall soft on the neck. Pearl sarafa or rope cord keeps it sturdy and can be used to vary the length. Length excl pendant -25″ (adjustable with rope) , pendant drop – 1.5″.

Dasavatar Necklace

Dasavatar refers to the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu – basically showing the evolution of life from a fish to a man who in the end becomes a slayer. This is the closest religious support that you could find for Darwin’s theory of evolution. The incarnations are Matsya – fish, Kurma – tortise, Varaha- boar, Narasimha – half man-half lion (and my favourite), Vamana – (dimensionless man – first a dwarf and then a giant), Parashurama (warrior), Rama(most righteous king to ever rule on earth) , Balrama (man with the strength of a serpent), Krishna (Prince & political savant),  and Kalki (destroyer at the end of all time).

 Dasavatar Necklace for Navaratri
For my design I have restored old Ganjifa  cards which had these images of lord vishnu’s ten incarnations  and set them in resin in shiny silver bezels. The pendants were then crocheted into multiple strands of soft acrylic yarns in yellow, blue, gold, bronze and interlaced with silver silver to bring out the silver glitter edging of the pendants. This statement necklace was wire wrapped like a cage to take the weight at the same time fall soft on the neck. The closure is a simple metal hook Length excl pendant -23″ , pendant drop – 1.5″.  Dasavathar Necklace that was featured in Midday, Mumbai edition 
 
I wanted to promote other ancient crafts and spread awareness about them, through my work, so I have used two traditional indian forms of art – Tanjore painting and Ganjifa (hand painted trading or playing cards) in my work here. When I sold these pieces, I attached small cards explaining their significance so that the wearer might enjoy them more. This idea actually came to me, when a client ordered pieces from my ragamala collection (coming up soon on this blog, I promise !!) as gifts and thought that his sisters might like reading about them and wanted me to create gift cards explaining each piece

So how do you like these pieces? I learnt a lot while making these pieces as I had to find a way to make a cord that took the weight yet was soft of the skin. After a lot of experimentation I settled on braiding and crochet but it took a lot more tries to think of the closure and even more effort to recreate them on order. Both are sold.

I will post this year’s Golu pics soon
I hope you find it interesting
Cheers

 

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11 responses to “Nine nights of decked up dolls – Navaratri”

  1. Cinnamon Jewellery avatar

    Really interesting! The colours are lovely and the contrast with the cords you've made is nice. I like the tanjore painting images you've set in the bezels most, they're beautiful.

  2. Radhika avatar

    like the Astalakshmi necklace so much… 🙂 Dasavatara pics are nice.. ya have seen your previous golu they are beautiful. . waiting to see the craft theme golu Divya..:)

  3. Divya N avatar

    thanks – my whole house is filled with 'bits of crafts' I hope they turn up well

  4. Divya N avatar

    Thanks Tracy, Tanjore paintings are traditionally made on wood base with POP and covered with 24K gold leafing sheets

  5. bairozan avatar

    These are beautiful! I admire your productivity and what looks like never ending inspiration! And I love the wide braided and crocheted cords 🙂

  6. Little Treasures avatar

    Beautiful! I like both collections – very meaningful! I cannot wait to see the dolls.

  7. Divya N avatar

    I did many experimented before I zeroed in on those cords. The dasavathar was originally a braid too but I then decided a multi yarn crochet was better. I am just glad that it works

  8. motidana avatar

    Wow , This is a beautiful collection and so perfect for Navaratri . You have captured the true essence of this traditional festival in your designs.
    Looking forward to seeing your kolu decoration too.

  9. tanvi maloo avatar

    How do i order one of these? How much is the ashthlaxmi neclace for?

  10. Divya N avatar

    Please send me an email, it has to be remade again on order with a few minor changes

  11. Geeta Gollapudi avatar
    Geeta Gollapudi

    Where can I find the necklace?

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