Got To Have Gota!

Recently my wife went shopping in the Johri Bazaar and came home with some spools & a couple of cards of  gota ribbons. When I asked her what she would do with them she said that they were for a saree. But she had no idea which saree she would use them on. Between you & me I doubt if she even has a saree that could be trimmed with gota ribbon. That is the appeal & the use of gota in Rajasthan.

To put it simply gota is lace made with silver or gold colored metal or plastic threads.

In Rajasthan, gota trimmed clothes for men, women & children are  used on all festive & ceremonial  occasions and marriages &  marriages proposals, celebration of the birth of the latest child of the family or even  the last journey to the funeral pyre of the lady of the house. Even the idols of our deity are dressed with costumes trimmed & decorated with various types of gota. Our holy books are treasured in swatches hemmed with gota. Gota work is even used in making enchanting wall hangings.

Gota work or lappe-ka-kaam has seen the days when pure silver & pure gold threads were used to make these ribbons to trim the clothes of Royalty & people of Rajasthan. These, gold & silver gota, ribbons were  in use till about as recently as 1970s. But due to the high prices these metals command now a days, plastic and other metal thread ribbons are in vogue today. The metals with which they are made may have changed but their use has not lessened or their demand decreased in these modern times among the Rajasthani women.

Jaipur Blue

Sawai Jai Singh Ji I brought the art of Blue Pottery to Jaipur in 1727 and Sawai Ram Singh ji II patronized the art  and Rajmata Gayatri Devi revived the art in 1960s before it could fade away. Today Blue Pottery of Jaipur has come a long way with the help of government organizations like RUDA (Rural Non Farm Agency),Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI),  non government agencies,artists,artisans,and businesses like Neerja International and the ordinary people for whom the charm of Jaipur Blue has endured over the years.Due to the efforts of all these people Blue pottery of Jaipur  has been granted Geographical Indication (GI) status under the GI Act by the GI Registry in Chennai. This status comes with a unique Registered  Logo with which all blue pottery produced in the Jaipur District will be branded.

Some 400 families in Jaipur and nearby villages like Sanganer, nevta, Muhana, Mahalan and Kotjewar  are actively involved in producing these art works. The body is completely hand made by Quartz and normal glass and the designs are sketched by hand before being colored in by specially developed colors which do not fade with use. Cobalt oxide produces the blue color. Jaipur climate is uniquely suited for producing this variety of pottery.Now a days according to WTO guidelines  100% lead free pottery is being produced. So the Jaipur Blue item can be put to day to day use.

There is no doubt that Jaipur Blue pottery items are works of art because artists like Ms.Meenakshi Rathore and Mr.Prabhu Dayal Yadav are depicting scenes from the lives of  Lord Budha and Mahaveer Swami and the local folk stories.

Makar Sakranti

Four Days After The Kite Festival

Every year at dawn on the 14th January a lot of people of Jaipur go to the Galtaji for a dip and there after give alms and donate blankets to the poor and feed cows green fodder and grain to the pigeons. Later in the day children and adults alike get on the roof top of their houses and fly multicolored kites, play blaring bollywood music and eat dal ke pakoras, revaries, gazak, phinie and til ke ladoos. One and only aim is to cut as many kites as possible. Food , body functions etc. can wait. The street urchins have a busy day as they try to collect as many cut kites as possible without any regard for their life or limb. The serious kite enthusiasts get invited to a home in the walled as that is where the real action is going to be.
A day before 14th January young and old alike shop for kites and string ( Sadda & Manjha) to fly them with.Budgets are the least of the constraints. Kites come in all colors and all shapes and sizes. They are even made of thin plastic sheets. Companies have their messages put on kites and on some photos of film stars are used to attract customers.There are even chinese made kites being sold in the markets.The master craftsmen who make kites and manjhas have been doing it for generations.
Once the booty is brought home the kites are readied for the next days action by stringing the kites and putting manjha on a sadda charkhy. Nobody wants to waste a single moment of the precious day on mundane details. There is a huge demand for black colored manjha as it is thought to have legendary powers to cut oppositions kites. Chinese manjha is to be avoided as it is coated with metal powder and can conduct electricity and can disrupt power supply if it falls on naked high tension lines.
Kite flying is simple enough if there is some wind blowing and somebody preps the kite for you. Long months of wasted youth flying kites are needed to learn the art of cutting the other guys kites. But once you get the knack every year 14th January will see you on your roof top enjoying the highs and lows of kite flying Jaipur style.
In 1878 Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh ji started the practice of flying kites on Makar Sakranti. Preparation for the festival would start 2 months before the festival date. Master craftsmen from Bareily & Ahemdabad were called to make manjha and kites.The Royals used to fly kites made of silver and gold and their charkhis used to be inlaid with gems. Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh ji was also a great kite flying enthusiast. His kite collection is on display in the City Palace Museum even today.There is mention of Lord Ram having flown a kite in Ramchrita Manas of Tulsidasji.
A couple of things to keep in mind when flying kites this 14th is to say no to manjha of any kind and to take good care of ones self. Because accidents do happen. Remember there will be other sankrats. There will be other kites to fly. And the manjha can seriously hurt the birds sharing the sky with your kites. If we will not be considerate of our feathered friends who will be.

Recipes

These are the 10  links to the recipes found on this Blog. If you missed them some how here they are for your consideration.
DAL

Khichari

Fish Curry

ALOE VERA- Gawar Patha

KER SANGRI PICKLE

RED MEAT

SOYA CHUNKS IN MANCHURIAN SAUCE

RANGEELA OMELETTE

SPICY EGG CURRY

TEA

I am partial to each one of them.I would be happy to hear your opinion about them.

A Shoe Laundry In Jaipur?

You heard that right! Now you can have your  suede & Nubuck  shoes and sports shoes cleaned by world-class technology in a Laundry made for washing expensive  shoes. They are closed on Sunday and work from 10 am to 6 pm on all working days. You have three options of contacting them you can e mail them your Name,Address & Contact No. at shoelaundryjaipur[ AT]gmail.com OR you can SMS the information to 9694055969 OR you can call the number 01413119967 . They will have the shoes picked up and return them with in 5 days ( Rs.20/- extra for this service).Total cleaning charges are to be paid in advance.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Some Flower And Plant Nurseries In Jaipur

Living in Rajasthan one can miss having  pretty flowers around you considering the water shortage and lack of space for gardens in the cities and the amount of work  required for cultivating flowers for a short span of time. That is why the recent Guldaudi   Show held in the Rajasthan University nursery was such a success,  I suppose. After the show was over the chrysanthemum plants in full bloom were sold to the public. Instant gratification so to speak.

There are so few public places where you can see various species of flowers in full bloom. One  solution is to buy some flower plants subject to the various constraints, under which we are all forced to  live, from the local nursery for whatever garden space one has.

These are some of the nurseries of Jaipur.

Pushpawali, Raja Park, 2620704

Anand Nursery,Lal Kothi, 2743474

Jawa Farm, Jamdoli,  2680629

Khejari Nursery ,Queen’s Road, 3242377

Day Break At The Man sagar

If you do not live near the Man Sagar why would you want to go there far a walk  at day break? It is a good question. The answer is because  I like to take pretty pictures. And sun rise is the best part of the day if you ask me. It is a different dawn every day. And each is prettier than the last one. There are birds, there are flowers and desert vegetation and paved paal to walk on. There is even a guy selling tea even before dawn. If you ask him he will serve your tea in disposable cups.There is even a Cafe Coffee Day at a petrol pump just opposite the lake which one presume is open during the day.Later in the day you can get Camel and Elephant rides too.You get a good walk, some fresh air and get to capture the changing moods of Jal Mahal Palace and the Man sagar Lake  in your camera.

Where To Shop When In Jaipur

In this day and age of globalization when on holiday one does wonder-what to buy? What to take home?Because a franchisee is selling just the thing you are going to buy today back home too. What he can not sell you is the proud comment from your six year old-my mother got it for me when she went for  a business trip to Jaipur.So buy you must for somebody back home.Or for yourself-no harm came from spoiling ones self just a little bit.

Let us start in the walled city where it would seem all of Jaipur comes to shop all at once.

Tripolia Bazar – Stationery items,Utensils,Hardware,Tin Trunks

Badi Chaupar-Turbans,Tie and Dye Fabrics

Chandpole Bazar-Grocery and Electric goods,Pickles and Sherbets

Chaura Rasta-School and College Text books and Jaipuri Quilts,Namkins,Traditional ladies Tailors

Outside Hawamahal-Mojari,Handmade Crackers,Costume Jewellery

Goplaji ka Rasta-Semi precious stones

Kashinath Ji Ki Gali-Wholesale Market for Wedding Cards

Lal Ji Sand Ka Rasta-Sarees(Lahareya), Ready-made Garments

Gheewalaon ka Rasta and Haldiyon Ka Rasta-Sweets,Churans,Supari

Pitaliyon Ki Galli-Jewelery,Garments,Indian snacks

Partaniyon Ka Rasta-Precious & Semiprecious Stones

Barah Gangaur Ka Rasta-Lac Bangles,Jaipuri Quilts,

Johri Bazaar -Jewelery,Textiles,Bandhani Sarees,Lehariya,Zari,Gota work

Agrasen Market, Johri Bazar,Sarees with Zardozee,Resham,Sequens work,Bhandej, Natural Georgette

Khajano Walon Ka Rasta-Marble Idols of various Gods

Maniharon Ka Rasta-Lac Jewelery and Bangles

Kishan Pole Bazar-Silver jewelery,Ayurvedic Medicines,Kites,Crackers,Cots

Bapu Bazaar & Nehru Bazar-Rajasthani Print Textiles,local perfumes,Suparies & Churans,Camel skin shoes.

Koli Basti-Carpets

Kumharon Ki nadi-Pottery

Nahargarh Road-Local musical Instruments

Raisar Plaza-Mobile & Computer Accessories & Ready made Garments

M.I.Road-Jewelery,Ready-made Garments,Handicrafts,Books,Restaurants,Bangles,

Rajasthali-A Government Emporium offering all that is the best of Rajasthan in one place.

Chameliwala Market-Electricals, Silver items

Saraogi Mansion- Imported stuff,Sarees,Footwear,Cosmetics

Jayanti Market-Electronics,Electricals,Mobiles,Computers

Jalupura-Wholesale Iron Market,Second Hand Vehicles Sale Purchase and Modification.

Sanganer-Handmade paper,Block Print Sarees,Furnishings

Bagru-Vegetable Dye Block Print Sarees,Furnishings

Lavan-Colorful Daris

Besides these traditional bazaars there are malls all over Jaipur which offer a particular item.And some shops are in colonies.If you shop in the day time(Happy Hours) when there is less rush some  Malls & Restaurants may give discounts or gifts.

Neerja International Inc.( 2224395)S-19 Bhawani Singh Road Blue Pottery Items Jewelery Top of The Line.

Anokhi,Block Print Garments and Furnishings (4007244),C-11,K.K.Square,Prithviraj Road,C-Scheme

Fab India,(5115991)C-69, Prithviraj Road,C-Scheme

Central Cottage Industries And Emporium,(2710680)Tonk Road,Near Glass Factory

Soma,Jacob Road,Civil Lines

Mojari,Shiv Heera Path,Chomu House,C-Scheme.

Ratan Textiles(2223185),Papriwal cottage,Ajmer Road

Bhuramal Rajmal Surana (Mfrs)( 2570429)J.L.N.Marg,Near police Memorial. Top of the line Jewelery

.

Samanvai Art Gallery,Ganpati Plaza,M.I.Road(5114400)

Satguru’s,Raja Park

Kalpana Handmade Paper Ind,bawari ka bas,nashion ka rasta,Sanganer(2732115,2731084)