Festivals &
Fun Activities
Activities:
Henna tattooing
Henna tattooing has just started to become more popular in
the west as a safe, painless and temporary body art. The powder
used for tattooing comes from the henna plant which is grown
in various places around the world including India, the southern
United States, Australia, the Mediterranean and Africa. The
powder naturally ranges in colour from green to brown (Black
henna is NOT pure henna and is NOT SAFE – avoid black
henna or any henna that is coloured as it is not pure and
the additives it contains may be harmful).
The powder
from the henna plant is mixed with water to form a thick paste
which can safely be applied to hair or skin to cause temporary
colour changes. Mehndi, or the art of applying the paste to
create temporary tattoos, has been practiced in India for
thousands of years. Originally it was used as a method of
cooling oneself down by dipping one’s hands or feet
into the henna paste. This eventually gave way to elaborate
and beautiful designs as a means of cosmetic adornment.
Mehndi
designs are often used to decorate hands, feet, pregnant bellies
and various other parts of the body. It is considered safe
for use during pregnancy. Try designing and applying your
own henna tattoos. Henna products can often be found in local
drug stores or on the web. Just be sure to avoid contact with
items you don’t want dyed and follow the direction of
the kit your purchase.
Festivals:
Raksha
Bandan
Raksha
Bandhan is a Hindu festival that commemorates the love between
sisters and brothers. It is usually held in late August (falling
on the 12th for the year 2003 and August 30, 2004). “Raksha”
means to protect and “Bandhan” refers to an enduring
bond. The celebration consists of sisters tying a rakhi, which
is usually a colourful or decorative thread or bracelet, around
their brothers’ wrists. Brothers then reciprocate by
giving their sisters small gifts (often a small amount of
money). Although it traditionally denotes the protection of
sister by brother, it also signifies the love that is shared
by them.
Ideas
for celebrating Raksha Bandhan in the Earthy Family home:
Siblings can all make each other bracelets and then exchange
them in a ceremony where they pledge to love and respect each
other. Try using one the following ceremony pledges, or tailor
them for your family or even for each of your siblings. For
ideas on making bracelets, check out some of these sites:
Simple
thread or yarn bracelet from Peace Pals
Hemp
and bead bracelet from Rings & Things
Hemp
and bead bracelet from Canku Ota
(Insert
Name), I promise to love, honour and respect you.
(Insert
Name), I appreciate your ________, value your _________,
and enjoy your _______. Accept this rakhi as a token
of my love and respect for you.
(Insert
Name), you are a wonderful (brother/sister). I give
you this bracelet as a symbol of my love for you. |
Bracelet
making
Experiment with the following materials and methods:
- Yarn
- Embroidery
thread
- Hemp
string
- Cotton
string
- Beads
- Braiding
- Twisting
- Weaving
- Beading
For further
inspiration, check out these books:
Hemp Bracelets (Klutz) by Anne Akers Johnson
Making Friendship Bands by Lynette Silver & Susie Poland
Friendship Bracelets by Laura Torres
Diwali
Diwali
is known as the Hindu Festival of Lights
and is one of the most important and beautiful festivals in
the India calendar. It is celebrated on the 15th day of Ashwin
(usually in October or November) and for 2003 it falls on
October 25th. In 2004 it will be celebrated on November 12.
Diwali
signals the beginning of winter and the sowing season in India,
and honours a variety of Hindu gods and goddesses. There are
great regional differences in Diwali celebrations and meanings,
but it is celebrated by just about the entire Indian population
(non-Hindus included) and focuses on harmony in the community
and the beginning of a new year (in the lunar calendar).
Houses
are thoroughly cleaned and filled with beautiful flowers the
day before Diwali starts. Torans (a garland for doorways)
are hung and Rangolis (designs drawn in coloured powder) are
painted in front of houses. The small clay lamps, diyas, that
are lit along roadways, in doorways and in the windowsills
of each house create a beautiful and enchanting atmosphere.
These hundreds of flickering lamps are the reason that Diwali
is also called the Festival of Lights. The homes are decorated
and the lamps lit to welcome the goddess of wealth and prosperity,
Lakshmi. A visit from this goddess is considered especially
lucky during Diwali.
The foods
of Diwali are sweet in nature. Traditional foods include laddoos
(chickpea flour cookies), gulab jamuns (milk balls served
in syrup), and murkis (made from lentil flour dough) –
all morsels that can be shared and exchanged with friends
and family.
Ideas
for celebrating Diwali in the Earthy Family home:
Make Rangoli designs together. Rangoli designs are temporary
art created with inexpensive and common materials such as
rice flour, white stone powder, vermilion, and lime and either
fingers or brushes. They are typically painted in courtyards
and range from simple or complex geometric patterns to extraordinarily
detailed scenes, often including gods and goddesses. Rangoli
art can easily be made at home with flour or brightly coloured
spices (try tumeric and/or paprika) or even sidewalk chalk.
If it’s nice out, Rangoli designs can be made on your
front step or sidewalk. If it’s not so nice out, try
making designs on cookie sheets. The great thing about temporary
art is that it can be made again and again.
For some beautiful examples of Rangoli art, check out the
Kamat
website.
Create your own festival of lights. Light several tealight
candles throughout your living room (just be sure to use these
safely), turn down the lights and share sweets and perhaps
an Indian fairy tale or two. As Diwali is about harmony in
the community, a family talk about harmony in your own community
may be just the thing. |
