humanityashore.com

By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

“Karthigai” is a month of purity and devotion. Hindu devotees in Sri Lanka celebrated the festival of “Karthigai Deepam” in the temples and houses on December 12th 2009.

It falls on Unduvap Poya day, which coincides with Karthigai star.

Rajakopuram of Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar New Kathiresan temple in Bambalapitty

There is a story linked between “Karthigai” and lamps according to religious references. Brahma- The Creator, and Vishnu- The Preserver had a dispute between them as to who was greater, and who was the supreme. Lord Shiva wanted to teach them the truth. He appeared before them in a form of huge column of fire.

Both of them referred their quarrel to Lord Shiva. He told them that he who could discover the crown of the light or its foot first might be considered as the superior. Accordingly Brahma took the form of a swan and flew up in an attempt to find the crown of the Light, while Vishnu took the form of a boar (Varaha) and began to dig down to find the foot of the Light. Neither of them succeeded. The knowledge dawned upon them that the Light was superior to both of them.

The Karthigai Deepam is celebrated to bring out this great truth that the supreme God is far beyond the Creator and the Preserver. Brahma and Vishnu thereupon prayed to the column of Light.

In the ‘Kalavazhi Narpadu’, which dates back to the third Sangam period (after 1,000 BC) the poet says, “In the battle the blood oozing out from the dead soldiers’ bodies is like the red coloured flame of the lamps lit during Karthigai Deepam festival”.

Tolkappiyam, the oldest available work dating back to 2,000 or 2,500 B C, has concise verse form rules for Tamil grammar. In one of the formulae, Tolkapiyar uses the phrase “like the lamp’s flame pointing upwards”.

Earthen lamps are significant to Hindu rituals and festivals. Light is indispensable for Karthigai Deepam. On this special day light is spread everywhere.

Moolasthanam of Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar New Kathiresan temple in Bambalapitty

Earthen lamps are lit with gingelly oil at the main entrance of a Hindu house

Shrine room of a Hindu house

The earten lamp which is lit is considered auspicious

Ghee lamp is lit in the shrine room

Karthigai is a month of illumination and brightness

Karthigai Deepam is one of the oldest festivals celebrated by the Hindus

People place rows of earthen lamps in the evening of Karthigai Deepam

Traditionally Karthigai Deepam is celebrated with earthen lamps lit in the houses

____________________________________________
HumanityAshore.org ~ Email:dushi.pillai@gmail.com

By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

A Special Evening of Music With the Kaffirs was held at the Barefoot cafe on November 2nd 2008. The event was organised by Internews.

There were 300 music and dance lovers who had the rare opportunity of experiencing African music and dance in Colombo. Audience at Barefoot cafe enjoyed the show for nearly two hours with the beats of drums and a variety of melodies. It was a unique occasion to witness the Kaffir community members beautifully performing at Barefoot Cafe.
______________________________________
Email:dushi.pillai@gmail.com

Holiday greetings video from the Obamas ~ last year, in December 2007

by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

Raking Leaves is an independent publisher of contemporary artists’ book projects. Two book projects mark the launch of Raking Leaves in Colombo recently at the Barefoot Gallery. The book launch marks the debut of Raking Leaves in Sri Lanka.

Two books were launched at the Barefoot Gallery:

Sharmini Pereira, Director, Founder and Curator of Raking Leaves, an independent publisher of contemporary artists’ book projects listens while Nazreen Sansoni, Director and Curator of the Barefoot Gallery inaugurates the book launch at the Barefoot Gallery

Pearls:

Pearls is a photographic journal of Simryn Gill. She creates books into necklace. She started her bead making project in 1999. There are 60 sets of beads in the book “Pearls”. The book is 250*205mm, 204pp. It contains 245 illustrations with soft cover with book jacket. Designed by Herman Lelie and Stefania Bonelli.

One Year Drawing Project:

May 2005-October 2007. This book contains drawings by Muhanned Cader, Thamotharampillai Shanaathanan, Chandraguptha Thenuwara and Jagath Weerasinghe. There are 52 sketches these four artists. The book is 275*195mm, 416 pp. 208 colour illustrations soft cover with French fold. Designed by Valie Walkley.

Beautifully bound one year drawing project : May 2005-October 2007

Sharmini Pereira, Director, Founder and Curator of Raking Leaves, an independent publisher of contemporary artists’ book projects explains about the “one year drawing project”

Muhanned Cader autographs a copy for Sharmini Boyle

Oil lamps at the event ~ flickering the divine influence of art

Some of the sketches are shown as slide show

Thamotharampillai Shanaathanan autographs a copy at the launch

Art lovers are seen buying the book

An oil lamp is lit in front of Pillaiyar idol at the Barefoot Gallery

Chandraguptha Thenuwara autographs a copy of the book, while Nazreen Sansoni looks on

Mirak Raheem and Sharmini Pereira at the book launch

Invitees at the Barefoot Gallery

Jagath Weerasinghe signs a copy of the “One Year Drawing Project:May2005-October2007″

Statue of Nadarajar is decorated with an oil lamp at the main entrance of the Barefoot Gallery

Sharmini Pereira established a non-profit organisation in 2005 based in London named “Raking Leaves”. Sharmini Pereira has shone through her innovative ideas, which are put together as a novel piece of art

Jagath Weerasinghe, Qadri Ismail and Thamotharampillai Shanaathanan at the Barefoot Gallery during the book launch

“One Year Drawing Project:May 2005-October 2007″ is an experimental publishing project

Bhavani Fonseka, Mirak Raheem and Thamotharampillai Shanaathanan at the Barefoot Gallery

Thamotharampillai Shanaathanan, Sharmini Pereira and Chandraguptha Thenuwara are seen at the Barefoot Gallery

The collaborative drawings by the four artists tell a fascinating story

Chandraguptha Thenuawara and Anoli Perera at the book launch

Nazreen Sansoni and Thamotharmpillai Shanaathanan at Barefoot Gallery

Each artist restricted himself to drawing on A4 sized sheets

Ahilan, Nazreen Sansoni, Thamotharampillai Shanaathanan and Chandraguptha Thenuwara at the launch of “One Year Drawing project: May2007-October 2007″

Sharmini Pereira believs that the new medium has the potential to change the way we see art

Source: HumanityAshore.org
______________________________________
Email:dushi.pillai@gmail.com