Chaturti Celebrations 19th Sept 2012

This year the celebration was not elaborate. Kept the pooja simple & offerings simple as we had plans to visit some famous ganapatis in our city. This time placed my Cold Porcelain Ganapati with Popsicle Umbrella made by me for pooja.

Offered beetel leaf, nuts, turmeric, fruits, mix fruit + flattened rice flakes, milk kheer and mahaprashad (rice + jagger).

We started after the pooja but could not see the famous ganapatis because they were open to public only after 7.30 pm as final touch of decorations were going on. So on invitation from a friend, we went to their place to attend the pooja for the Ganapati installed in their complex. It was very interesting to see the decorations made for ganapati at various homes.

Ganapati is seated in his chariot drawn by 7 mooshiks lead by the chief fat & big Mooshik.

Though we could not have the darshan of famous ganapatis, our heart is fulfilled with joy that we could take part and have darshan of this ganapati. Took the prashad and we started our return journey towards home sweet home seeing Ganapti of different sizes, postures were taken in procession on the road.

May the vignaharta remove all obstacles and bless you all with a happy & prosperous life.

Ganapati Bapa Moriya, Mangal Murti Moriya!

Ganapati - Cold Porcelain craft

Om Maha Ganapathaye nama :

 

Inspired by cold porcelain works, I tried making the clay at home.

I tried many doll tutorials given in the net but didn't turn out satisfactorily. So tried my favourite Ganeshji. A god who is very simple and his form is so easy to draw or mould.

To make cold porcelain clay at home check this beautiful website. I followed stove stop method.

The idea for the idol I got from this wonderful link

The umbrella making tutorial you can check out here 

1. Popsicle Umbrella
2. Umbrella for Ganeshji 

I used an empty deo bottle's cap to seat my Ganeshji and formed the lotus around it.

 

then the mooshik who will be seen always with Ganapati Bapa

colour using acrylic pearl colours (this gives a shine)

 Ganapati Bapa Moriya, Mangal Murti Moriya

Popsicle Umbrella for my Ganpati

Sharing with you another fun popsicle project. An Umbrella.

You will need :

1. Popsicle sticks - 5 Nos
2. Yarns of different colours
3. Glue gun
4. thermocol balls / beads
5. Clay
6. Empty colour bottle
7. Acrylic Colours

Procedure :-

Arrange 3 sticks as show in the picture below to form the top part of the umbrella

Make the stick support for the umbrella by joining two sticks as shown in the picture

now when the 3 sticks you have arranged earlier has dried up, tie the yarn and wind it around the stick and take it to the next stick, wind around it...so on. the pictures that follows may give you an idea.

Now using glue gun, attach the top portion to the stick. decorate with beads / thermocol balls

Stuff some clay inside an empty colour bottle. Place the stick and cover the bottle with clay by rolling out it using a rolling pin after dusting the surface with talcom powder.

let the clay dry for 2 or 3 days. Then colour it.

Now a beautiful umbrella is ready.

I made it for my ganpati bapa for this chathurthi. ....will be making a post on it soon.

Potato Podimas / Potato curry

A traditional recipe for the potato lovers. A dry subzi goes well with sambar rice or curd rice.

Ingredients :-

1. Potato - 4 medium
2. Grated coconut - 4 tbsp
3. Green chillies - 3 nos
4. Ginger - 1/2" piece
5. Salt to taste
6. Oil for tempering
7. Mustard seeds
8. Urad whole
9. Curry leaves
10. Asafoetida powder - 1 pinch

 Procedure :-

• Pressure cook potatoes for 3 whistles. Cool and peel the skin. Gently mash it into rough medium pieces 

• Dry grind the grated coconut, green chillies without water.

• Heat oil, add mustard seeds. When it starts spluttering, add whole urad, curry leaves, hing powder. 

• When urad turns golden brown, add the potato pieces and ground coconut masala, salt 

• Cover and cook for two minutes by stirring in between.

• Yummy potato curry / Podimas ready

In this traditional recipe, i used coconut oil which is more flavourful. 

PS : You can also squeeze in few drops of lemon before serving which adds to the flavour & taste and make it more yummy.