Thoughts inspired by Atheena Wilson's booty shaking anti-bachelorette tea party with wine. The journey of womankind from being ripe for the marriage market to become the goddess. All in Frida Kahlo style.
When Atheena Wilson invited me for her wedding, I was amused and thinking about her series of articles 79 IN TIME, where she asked her grandmother: “When will I wear a saree?”
Grandmother answered: “You wear a saree only when you become a woman.” Atheena have sarcastically commented on it: “It sounds like a sentimentally wise thing to say, but let me break it down to you. In other words, it also meant, “When you’re ripe enough for the marriage market.”
Here she is! God gave her imperfect irresistible beauty, which graduates every time you meet her. Plus, as she admitted, she had stolen from her grandmother’s shelf of knick-knacks a spoonful of pickle and some sweet and sour sarcasm to become a writer. Not only “ripe for marriage market”, but also ready to break the strict south Indian social rules and marry the man, she loves. Rolling with her big intense eyes, which could belong to kathakali actress, telling me, we are going to have a fun and her “anti-bachelorette tea party with wine” will be in Frida Kahlo style.
Invitation stated:
I accepted the challenge with the Frida’s words in my mind and slowly painted my own reality. I desperately needed to add some colours in my own life. All happened very fast and within few hours I was standing at URU art harbour in front of Anand Rakesh camera.
And yet, again, I remembered Athena’s words about the beauty, which she wrote about her grandmother:
“Growing up with someone brutally honest, I knew she always wanted to teach us beauty lay in how content we were with ourselves not the one that thrived in compliments. In the end, another person’s opinion of how you look never mattered if you don’t know how you look. So then I, with a naked face, began to look into the camera, unafraid.”
Next day in St. George Church, George and Atheena, invited us to be part of wondrous chapter of their life and have officially let the universe conspire and gift them the indelible story. The Gods of Small Things blessed them and watched how she wore flowers in her hair and carried magic secrets in her eyes.
I spoke to no one, but this time I heard the royal words of Her Highness Princess Gouri Parvathi Bayi, which she told me almost one year ago: “But, Zuzana, female and male, they are complimentary. There is no life without the male and the female. We have a tendency to see it as sort of competition. It is not a competition. They have to melt, they have to go together to be of use to the society.”
And she continued: "There are a lot of talks about 'Woman Empowerment'. What exactly is this 'Woman Empowerment'? We are what we are! There is 'Shakti' in us. I do not think we need any extra empowerment. We have to be aware of the 'Shakti' that is within us. We should bring it out and use it in the sensible way."
“We, humans, we are not much evolved. In our scriptures, we say, that the power of God is everywhere. There is a saying: "The God exists in the pillar, in the piece of rust, in the stones, in the thorns and in me and in you." The God is only one and we were given the freedom to worship the power, which is God, in any form you like. So that freedom to choose, that the God has no gender."
Founder & Director of Ayurveda Trails, healing collection of (extra)ordinary people and their stories, whose experiences are transferred into various trails shared by travelers.
Run parallel, meet at intersections, skip a few lines, the line of thought has journeyed across a few latitudes and longitudes. To more miles before the big sleep. Cheers, Atheena
The Travancore Kingdom Royalty are considered the descendants of the Gods and ancient Cheras, Venad, Pandya and Chola dynasties, who brought the philosophy of ayurveda to the world.
He calls himself The Lone-traveller. In section about him is written: Don’t have a clue yet. He silently stalks Kochi Muziris Biennale artists and transform their visions into photographs.
While he is searching for the right frame, he believes, that art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. Perhaps he is lost in Pondicherry or found in Cochin.
Lakshmikutty Amma is called Vanamuthassi, The Grandmother of the Jungle in Malayalam. Her mission is to preserve the healing traditions of Kaani tribe, settled in the deep forest of Kallar in Thiruvandrum district in Kerala.
TALK 01: Holistic Approach To Ayurveda Diet
At CGH Earth Kalari Rasayana Ayurveda Hospital, the journey to healing is filled with many discoveries. Zuzana Zwiebel in her talk with Dr.Poornima Sreelal tried to unravel the path to healthy eating habits and focused on holistic approach to ayurveda diet.
Thoughts inspired by Atheena Wilson's booty shaking anti-bachelorette tea party with wine. The journey of womankind from being ripe for the marriage market to become the Goddess. All in Frida Kahlo style with blessings of Her Highness Princess Gouri Parvathi Bayi.
I hesitated for publishing this story quite late, but there’s a beauty in rewinding. Makes me appreciate how all those days have become of me. The clever fall of dominoes of life events that led me to still standing. A very happy new year to all!
The lotus blossom represents heart opening, growth and enlightenment. The lotus is rooted in mud and darkness, grows up through water and blooms beautifully above the surface. Through experiences we grow toward the light.
VISHU FESTIVAL
NEW YEAR IN KERALA
The Malayalam word kani literally means that which is seen first. The traditional belief is that one's future is a function of what one experiences, that the New Year will be better if one views auspicious joyful things as the first thing on Vishu.
The Theyyam dancer’s dark black mystic eyes are emphasised by the deep bloody red color of his face. The light of the fire reflects on his bare chest decorated by the drawing of two snakes. He is ready to jump into the fire and narrator is telling his story.
THE TALK Nº1:
What is Ayurveda for you?
Ayurveda is the science of helping a common individual to understand how to live comfortably throughout his life. Using what is available in this universe. I call it as a universe because Ayurveda is universal. Ayurveda is me and I am Ayurveda.
KR SUNIL
The Seafarers of Malabar
There aren’t many places in the world, to which monsoon winds and the smell of spices brought more sea trading ships than to the ports in Kerala. Their glory has faded, but photographer KR Sunil in silent portraits of sea sailors is capturing their stories.
The Mudras are used to affect the energy flow within the body. They appear to be merely physical gestures, but we can experience mudras as attitudes of energy flow intended to link the individual pranic force with the universal or cosmic force.
PAULA BRACONNOT: The Alchemist Eye Blooms In The Heart
I have an obsession with the EYE. It can be a mirror but also a window into one’s soul. My universe is quite eclectic: I’m drawn to old engravings, botanical art, alchemy and surrealism. If you look closely at the photo you’ll see that I have a third arm…
The Walking Trail: RED CROWN GREEN PARROT
The walking trail through the historic Jewish urban area of Mattancherry. It deals with the vanished and forgotten cultural heritage of the Malabar Jewish community from the personal viewpoint of the artists Meydad Eliyahu and Thoufeek Zakriya.
RANAKPUR JAIN TEMPLE: 1444 Pillars & 108 Snakes
Nestled in a valley amongst the Aravalli Hills, Ranakpur Temple dates to the 15th century. Local legend holds that construction began in 1437 following a divine vision received by Dharna Shah, a local Jain business person.
Karni Mata is worshiped as one of the strongest warrior reincarnation of Goddess Durga in India. She might be powerful and fearful, but only until you see her army of 20.000 rats! If you are lucky, you can see the white rat, manifestation of Karni Mata herself!
Celebrating the Jewish Fall Festivals - Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkoth and Simchat Torah - with Cochin Jews, a small community trying hard to keep alive the most sacred and revelous days of Jewish life in Kochi.
NICK UT: The tears of the Women
It's a strange feeling to compare the "Napalm Girl" and Paris Hilton photo, I know I will never take another photograph that's as good as Kim’s photo. The big difference I grew to love Kim, whereas… frankly, I don't give a damn about Paris Hilton.
