A bit of a ramble below, but read through
Ideas to save on flights is in there!
I had dinner yesterday with mates that I have hung out with since 1980. It was such a buzz to meet them, then and a pleasure to know them now.
A bit of a ramble below, but read through
Ideas to save on flights is in there!
I had dinner yesterday with mates that I have hung out with since 1980. It was such a buzz to meet them, then and a pleasure to know them now.How to assemble a blouse
from UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site
Inscribed in 2022 (17.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
The art of the traditional blouse with embroidery on the shoulder (called altiศฤ) is an essential part of Romanian and Moldovan folk dress for men and women. It juxtaposes a simple cut with rich and colourful ornamentations that are stitched using complex sewing techniques. The blouses are white and made of natural fibres (flax, cotton, hemp or floss silk), and the complex stitch combines horizontal, vertical and diagonal seams that result in a specific pattern and texture. The styles and techniques vary according to the region and the wearer’s age, as well as to the skills of the women who create the blouses. The motifs and ornamentation are also varied: from geometric and stylised registers to organic shapes, and from sombre to vivid colours. Traditional blouses with altiศฤ are made entirely by hand, and recent attempts to mechanize certain steps and to simplify the ornamentation and techniques constitute deviations from tradition. The craftsmanship is exclusively female and generally passed on within families, although some organizations, museums and schools organize camps and courses. Today, interest in creating these blouses is steadily increasing, with the practice viewed as a means of relaxation and of affirming one’s national identity and maintaining visible ties to the past.
Fascinating that it is believed that Ramgarh Shekhawati in 1900 had the richest per capita income in the world!
A town with eight centres of Sanskrit learning, patronage of the arts, architecture, building technologies, Vastu and Ayurveda, and great Vedic knowledge. It was also known as the ‘Doosra Kashi’! Kashi is another name for Varanasi, implying that this was one of the greatest learning centres of the world.
From an article by Dr. Shruti Poddar. I love the story of how the town came to be- makes the Chhatris seem even more amazing.
Just up the road, in an even sleeper little village is a full blown castle or fort!
It is huge, originally founded in 1768 there is the old part a fort with many newer buildings- think 4 story sprawling mansions built late 18/1900's spreading around it.
Due to large families and inheritance and the complexities of Indian joint families there are now 9 families who own sections of the place and it does not seem they are the best of mates.
The Thakur [title from Indian feudal times= lord] Mr Singh inherited the oldest part which really is a medieval castle. He told us he was a lawyer in Jaipur and had not expected to inherit the family title and home.... but there you, this is how the Gods wanted it.
There are some stunning old rooms, but not much modern at all, it is not a one person job looking after it or even just living in it.
Power lines are tacked along the walls, water is hard to get to the different rooms, toilets that flush were not a thing at the time of building.... Mr Singh and his lovely wife have had it open to guests for many years, their hospitality and kitchen impeccable in a crumbling but loved old fort.
Finding a fort out there in the desert is extraordinary, but even more boggling is the Sone-Chandi ki Dukan or Gold & Silver Shop just outside the ramparts. The murals painted on the ceilings are so fine it is hard to see them, you need a ladder. Note the more details a mural the more it cost to paint, so although they wanted to tell the story of the Gods, they also wanted to point out how well life was treating them. Apparently the trade was in opium which necessitated a gold store.
Think later Opium Wars with China- English colonial powers like to increase their chance of success by destabilizing populations with intoxicants. Some of the great Mughals and other noblemen were already known for their excesses, too.
Next to the Gold Shop is an old Haveli, it must have once been so beautiful and was renown for its soirees. It has a ballroom with Belgium Crystal Chandeliers, unfortunately now home to bats.
There are lights starting to shine, recent googling shows up a few places that have been or are being renovated into boutique hotels- Yeh!
I can't even tell you where this is.... we were taking a back road, searching out an amazing Women's Enterprise we had heard of.... another story.
Anyway trying to find our way we were driving through what seemed like inhospitable desert when over a small rise this came up.
Stunning!!. No idea who built it or why, no one to ask. It was just a moment of Shekhawat magic.
By the amount of goat poo around it is obviously appreciated by the locals.
If anyone knew it was there I am sure many would drive by to appreciate it's beauty.
Sums up Shekawati region really. I want to tell you about it, but it would be nice if it was our well kept secret.
Yet being pragmatic, it is visitors' enthusiasm that will save it. Visiting and filling the beautiful boutique Havelis that are around will encourage others to love up more of the old beauties.
Progress, some of it is based on loving and looking after the beauty and creativity of our ancestors. They lived out here and lived well in a hot, hot desert before modern electricity and AC. What could we do with our buildings after looking at their methods?
Plan on visiting again in October 2024