The Tree of Life insignia and Sidi Saeed Mosque
On my first trip to Ahmedabad, I was at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM-A) for my niece’s convocation ceremony. IIM-A’s logo is the Tree of Life insignia. The insignia is derived from the intricate stone-carved window…
The Jaipur Literature Festival: A carnival to remember
Resplendent peacocks welcome you as you enter the gates of Diggi Palace. And then you are subjected to an airport style scan and frisking — only done a lot more politely and quickly. The vibrant colours of…
Rani ni Vav: The queen among stepwells
Have you had a chance to look at the new lavender-coloured hundred rupee note? Turn it to the reverse side and you will see a motif of Rani ki vav. Rani ki vav (or Rani ni vav…
The revival of Ajrakh
I have always been fond of the Indigo range sold by Fab India and own several of their block-printed kurtas and some sarees. The patterns and aesthetics of Ajrakh have always appealed to me. But I knew…
Gandhi and leprosy
When he lived in Sevagram, Mahatma Gandhi used to take long walks. One cold winter day in December 1939, as he stepped out of the ashram, he encountered a man who was carrying a bundle in his…
The art of Rogan block printing
We were in Ahmedabad and my friend Deepa asked us if we would like to see the craft of Rogan block printing. So we hired two auto rickshaws and went off to find Khan Chowk. After some…
Lippankaam: Kutch’s mural art
We travelled into the interiors of Kutch and the walls of the mud houses that we saw all had beautiful murals on the exterior. This art of wall decor embedded with mirrors is called lippankaam. Lippankaam is…
The story of Kachchi Dabeli
I remember first buying a packet of Kachchi Dabeli masala in a supermarket and wondering why it was called Kachchi. It took me a few moments to discover that it was not कच्ची or ‘raw’ but कच्छी…
The dazzling Sun temple at Modhera
I couldn’t have chosen a more significant day to visit the Sun temple in Modhera. I was there on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti. The temple’s intricate architecture dazzled my eyes, as much as the sun…
Colourful spectacle at the International Kite Festival
I had hear about the International Kite Festival from my friend, Chetna, several times, but travel plans never seemed to work out. However this year finally, I was lucky to be in Ahmedabad right in the middle…
