It takes some odd block of what seems like a solid wooden block. And some blocks of colour. Today, they are applied with some deftness of art. And craft. With some heat to add.
You watch. From a distance. As nimble fingers of the old man, work their magic on that block of what seems to be wood.
The heat work its magic. In some time there is a delicate, well rounded straight line. With stripes and design. You shake your head half in disbelief. Half in awe. Just a few minutes back, they were blocks of colour.
The hands are at work again. Somewhere between the holding and handling of what looks like a small piece of wood, emerges the first signs of what would finally emerge. A bangle. With a dash of colour and a design thats by design !
Some shaping. Some more heat. Some more tapering. Voila, a bangle. Perhaps a work of art ! In some time, all set to bring joy. To the lady wearing it. Or perhaps the chap who is buying it for her.
Seems like the story of life. Of each one of us. The transformation that some colour, some heat, some shaping and deft work brings to us is a story that we perhaps miss !
Celebrate life ! Add some colour. Give into some shaping. Soak in the moment. Life is beautiful. Of course, nothing can be holier than that !
Happy Holi !
29 responses
No video?
Anyways, colors i.e., Life-Happy Holi
Loved it! I can see the man has done this many times, but still each one is slightly different.
Never seen this before. What an art and absolutely beautiful.
Happy Holi..
wow! amazing work.
Is that glass?
OH OH OH OH!!! LOOOKKKK AT THAT!!!! I LOVE THIS POST! (Yes, all caps!) The jewelry maker in me wants to do this! How lovely!
Amazing…good post Kavi. But what is that material? It’s not wood….
What a great essay ! Different colors, different surfaces, white heat,red heat, hard attitudes, scrapes, and at the end of the day, its about making two ends meet. And he makes someone somewhere very happy.
(The rest of the world, with all the attributes , can only fight)
Surprised with the way the story of bangle making was presented. 🙂 Beautiful photos with an interesting discription. 🙂
Beautiful!! And amazing! And the analogy, so apt!
Reading you for quiet some time, finally leaving a comment after a lot of proxcrastination! 🙂
May be next time I come across this scene, I will watch it with more interest because of your post 🙂
Wow!! Happy Holi first.
He would have designed and made countless bangles in his lifetime. But each one is an unique work of art, unique blend of colors.
That way, life is a rich potpourri of colors, shadows, shades……
awesome man !!
and yea, best post for Holi, with a difference .. but still full of colors ..
Awesome art and this post is appropriate for this season. Thanks for this pictures description and this shows there is some hard work behind every joy.
Happy Holi bro 🙂
What a great series of pictures, Kavi! Loved this post- particularly the last lines!
I am shaking my head half in disbelief and half in awe.. each time I come here; you have something new to offer; your words bring a smile on the face of your readers – you do bring colours and smiles in our lives..thank you 🙂
U have driven so many little little pointers home Kavi… An art a beautiful…
Amazing. What a way to drive a point.
beautiful
Beautiful. I loved the last two paras 🙂
Splendid photos. Really appreciated these skilled craftsmen. You get to see similar demos at crafts fairs. Those deft fingers, the unbridled flow of creativity- its a visual treat.
oh wow!! thank you for the detailed pictures. i really enjoyed them!
wow! i never knew that the end result was a bangle!
teh last para was beautifully written 🙂
Lovely end result. Happened to see this in action in Rajasthan. Nice pictures.
It all comes down to passion. eh? I can’t help think of the movie, “3 idiots”…..
Beautiful correlation between life and art. Your post reminds me of a line that i read recently. Everyone and everything is connected in the circle of life.
Btw i too had seen a bangle making workshop at Shilparamam — a craft village in Hyderabad and admired the dexterity of the craftsmen.
wow.. i have often bought these bangles.. and saw them being made..
but never thought abt them in such a poetic and artistic way..
loved the way u hav written it..
p.s was just passing by
Magical!
Aloha from Hawaii
Comfort Spiral
hobo : I am more comfortable with stills ! 🙂
Lou : yes. he matches it to the dress patterns of his customers
Priya : I had an identical expression in my mind too ! 🙂
The Kid : No. This isnt glass. This is something else and i dont know what it is !
Aleta : Am glad you liked it so much !
Braja : Its not wood ! And i dont know what it is ! 🙂
Ugich Konitari : ‘Meeting ends’ part was just brilliant. When i read it, i felt a 1000 stars bloom in my mind ! Lovely !
Chandrika : Thank you ! 🙂
Guria : Well, well, thank you ! For reading. And now…for writing in too !
Aativas : 🙂 Sure ! Let us know how it went !
Insignia : Absolutely ! Each is a unique blend of art and colour ! Each coming alive.
Dinu: Thank you !!
jeevan : Thank you Jeevan ! Hope you are having a fun filled time indeed !
Manju : Thank you ! 🙂
Neha : That was so generous of you ! Thank you ! It puts a smile on my face !
PNA : Thank you !
Iyer : Thank you sir ! Learning from you ! 🙂
Harekrishnaji : 🙂 Thank you !
Sriram : Thank you ! How have you been ?
The Holy Lama : You are absolutely right ! Imagine a time, when they were doing this as a way of life and not as part of some obscure fair ! I guess it must have had a different ring to it ! Whatsay ?
Bodaat : Thank you ! Glad you liked them !
Suma : Neither did it when i first saw the work happening !
Anil : Thank you !
Praveen : There is a certain flow that passion begets ! And that is visible and evident in work !
Asha : Thank you indeed ! I have been there as well. And have spent hours on end seeing the craftsmen craft their craft ware !
Commited to Life : Thanks for stopping while passing by ! And thanks for the comment too !
Cloudia : Welcome heere ! Aloha !
I seemed to have missed this. The making of a bangle is really lovely. Belated Holi greetings.