Pongal (Harvest Festival)

Pongal may be a ancient Indian harvest pageant that charms with its vibrant intimations of AN age gone along. 

Pongal is well known principally in South India over four days, by farmers United Nations agency thank to 'Surya', the Sun God and giver of life, for the blessings of a fashionable harvest.

New beginnings

In Singapore, Pongal is well known on the commencement of the auspicious month of Thai. On the primary day, 'Bhogi Pongal', celebrations begin with worship of Lord Hindu deity, the Ruler of Clouds and Giver of Rains. Thorough cleanup additionally because the discarding of recent belongings is dole out to suggest a clean slate.

Oil lamps ar lit, new garments ar donned and vibrant styles in rice flour ar created on the floors of homes.

On the second day, 'Surya Pongal', the Sun God is honored. each menage cooks a pot of rice with milk to supply up to Hindu deity at dawn.

Pongal means that to ‘overflow’, thence the pot of rice has got to spill over to symbolise prosperity and abundance. this can be then served to members of the family additionally as any guests to the house. it's a awfully social amount, as relatives and friends visit one another and exchange greetings.

The third day, referred to as 'Mattu Pongal', is ready aside to honour kine – cows ar sacred animals within the Hindu faith.

To remember the work they are doing, like plowing the fields and providing milk, the kine ar clean and their horns painted. Multi-coloured beads, tinkly bells and flower garlands ar placed around their necks and that they ar fed special snacks as a treat.

The ties that bind

The Judgment Day, referred to as 'Kannum Pongal', is all regarding the community and strengthening ties. Younger members obtain the blessing of the older members of their families.

Landlords distribute garments, food and cash to their staff. Offerings ar created at temples whilst special prayers ar conducted.

Infused with the earthy rhythms of farming life, Pongal offers guests a peek into a fashionable culture and some way of life that has been celebrated in Southern India for hundreds of years.

A rich bounty

The term ‘pongu’, which means ‘to boil over’ or ‘flourish’ in Tamil, is what offers the pageant its name. That’s why you’ll see the necessary tradition of filling a replacement clay pot with milk and recent rice, then adding ginger, turmeric, refined sugar, cashew fruity, raisins and clarified butter because it cooks. once it's delivered to a boil and froths over, relations verbalise "pongollo pongal", which implies "may this rice boil over" in Tamil, signifying a want for overflowing fortunes.

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Sri Mariamman Temple

Located in Chinatown, the Sri Mariamman Temple dates back to 1827 and is that the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore.

Bustling Chinatown is home to the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, the Sri Mariamman Temple.

Dating back to 1827, the temple was referred to as Mariamman Kovil or Kling Street Temple, and engineered by immigrants from the Nagapatnam and Cuddalore districts of South Bharat.

It is dedicated to the deity Mariamman, acknowledged for her power to cure diseases and diseases.

Abuzz with activity

Now a monument, a lot of of this structure is believed to own been inbuilt 1862-63 by Indian craftsmen.

Besides worship, the temple was a vital place for community activities throughout the colonial era. it absolutely was even the written account of Marriages for Hindus – at the time, solely the temple was authorised to solemnise Hindu marriages.

It has been fixed varied times, last in 2010. This $4-million restoration project saw a team of regarding twenty artists brought in from Bharat, and enclosed repainting all the stone deities.

An ornate landmark

At the temple, look out for its ornate and elaborate description. The majestic 'gopuram' (grand tower entrance) particularly may be a landmark to generations of Hindu worshippers and Singaporeans alike.

Its six tiers area unit lined with sculptures of deities, mythological beasts and different beings. See if you'll be able to spot the Sepoy troopers in their khaki uniforms from the military tradition of the British dominion.

If you’re here in Gregorian calendar month or Nov, think about perceptive the Theemithi (fire walking ceremony), that is that the main competition celebrated annually at the temple.

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Decoding Hollywood costume designs

Deborah Landis, a notable Hollywood fashion designer, once said, costume style is de facto not regarding the garments. Costume style is de facto regarding the creation of recent personalities.

Today, Lifestyles continues with our 'Decoding Hollywood' series, with a more in-depth inspect costume style.

PKG

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Thailand's craft & culture shortlist

In earlier {period|times of yore|precedent days} up to the first trendy period in Siam, Thai craftsmen were thought-about the "true artists".  They were thought to possess superior intellect, a full understanding of culture and a large locomote knowledge. that they had  the capability to form and manufacture nice works of art which will however seldom realize their equal in execution these days.  These arts not solely mirrored the artists artistic force however additionally cultural reflections of the art and its use in Thai society and culture.

"Chang feemeu", roughly cherish country word "craftsman",  has till solely recently been thought-about by most Thais to be a far lower designation than "silapin", or artist. this can be unfortunate and doesn't absolutely replicate the talent of some these artisans or the artistic treasures they made. we might wish to emphasize that the works of those craftsman, works that area unit attributed with intelligence and creativeness, area unit like to demand appreciation by all true art lovers.  Any study of the crafts as being somehow a study of a lesser style of art doesn't absolutely appreciate verity creative force of those crafts or their importance to Thai life and culture. several of those "craftsmen and women" were and area unit national treasures. the most effective of their works have a living force that needs worship of the artisans artistic force and creative advantage.

The recent Thai phrase, "chang sip mu", or "ten divisions of craftsmen", could be a part whose original usage was the name of a section comprising craftsmen assigned  to 10 division divisions.  Let's take a glance at this list of divisions because it offers America a general plan of the vary of  the craftsmen's trades in Siam at the time of the reign of the nice King avatar V (1853-1910).

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Contemporary arts & Craft Thailand

Thailands up to date art encompasses a number of the foremost numerous and versatile art in geographic region. Siam is well positioned within the international world of latest art with its international and liberal outlook and virtually lack of censorship, that plague several countries within the region. trendy painting within the western sense started late in Siam, with academician Silpa Bhirasri and also the institution of Silpakorn University, however Thai artists square measure currently expressing themselves in an exceedingly kind of media like installations, images, prints, video art and performance art.

Contemporary Thai art usually combines ancient Thai parts with trendy techniques. Notable artists within the classical tradition embrace Chakrapan Posayakrit, Chalermchai Kositpipat and Tawan Dachanee.

Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Vasan Sitthiket, Montien Boonma et al have diagrammatical Siam at the Venezia Biennale. Vasan Sitthiket is one among the few Thai up to date creative person with work diagrammatical within the depository of contemporary Art (MoMA) in the big apple. His most up-to-date show is termed market economy is Dying! at Thavibu Gallery, 2009.

Chatchai Puipia exhibited at the Asia-Pacific Triennal (1996), the Shanghai Biennale (2002), the Singapore Biennale (2006) and also the exhibition Traditions/Tension Southeast Asian Art at the Asia Society in the big apple. Panya Vijinthanasarn is that the Dean of Silpakorn’s college of Painting, Sculpture and art.

Younger and energetic artists embrace Porntaweesak Rimsakul, Yuree Kensaku, Jirapat Tatsanasomboon, Kritsana Chaikitwattana and Thaweesak Srithongdee.

Since 2003 Siam has participated within the Venezia Biennale. The Ministry of Culture leads this project, whereas the personal sector additionally works to place Siam on the art map by proposing fascinating works and artists to Documenta, organized each five years in Kassel, Germany. In 2007 there have been 2 Thai artists in Documenta, whereas associate degree Asian art show was control in ZKM, Federal Republic of Germany at a similar time, in Gregorian calendar month 1987.

Thailand art associate degreed craft is woven  in to the country's wealthy cultural heritage and is an inherent a part of Siam's history and national identity. With skills having been passed on for generations, Siam art and craft is an everlasting reflection of the Thai people's attention to detail and creative thinking. The natural landscape lends itself to craft with associate degree abundance of rattan, wicker, coconuts and palm leaves ideal for creating handicrafts whereas non secular influences mirror dazzling gold, colored and mirror artworks that pay court to Thailand's spectacular temples.

Traditional Thai art and craft ranges from paintings and musical instruments to lovely silk, silver wear, pottery, puppets, Khon masks, model warships, bronze wear, soap carving, sculptures, wood and stone carvings, ceramics and far a lot of. guests can notice that abundant of Thailand's art and craft could be a distinction, with spectacular ancient gold gilded temples encircled by trendy urban environments and up to date hotels and resorts increased with ancient Thai paintings, sculptures and woven  materials for a a lot of authentic atmosphere.

However, for a true insight into Siam art and craft it's the traditional temples that best showcase the native people's skills and creative thinking. flexuous gables, gilded gold, sparking mirror artworks and carvings of gods and spiritual figureheads supply a number of the simplest samples of the handicrafts of the Thai folks. fondly created with associate degree virtually not possible attention to detail, these sculptures and murals square measure a devotion to religious mystic and square measure a preferred holidaymaker attraction.

Modern day Siam art and craft could be a mix of ancient techniques and a lot of up to date ways that has seen the art and craft trade thrive, significantly with the increase in quality of Siam as a vacation destination. Tourists square measure an enormous a part of keeping the standard alive as many of us purchase handicrafts and like souvenirs. With such a novel and exquisite vogue, hand crafted by locals who's skills are learned generation over generation, Siam art and craft could be a howling thanks to bear in mind this glorious country.

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