Vishnu/Vamana/Krishna - Chantal Jumel

Vrindavan sanjhi, "Stencil art to celebrate the divine couple Radha Krishna" — part 3

The beauty of sanjhi lies in the perfect precision with which the stencils are cut, and the skill of the painter in placing them one after the other without the design and background blurring.

Patachitra/Odisha

Odisha chita/jhoti, "Visiting Bhubaneswar and Raghurajpur" — part 2

Patachitra paintings are known to illustrate mythological stories and portraits of the divine triad of the Jagannath (Lord of the universe) temple. In Odisha, God Krishna is worshipped in this form along with his brother Balabhadra and his half-sister Subhadra.

Ram Navami

Kolam to celebrate the birth anniversary of god Rama

Bow, arrows, and padukas as symbols of Rama in kolam. He is adorned with all virtues, exceptional strength, and incredible archery skills. Janaka, the king of Mithila had decided that the king who could lift the bow would marry his daughter Sita.

Gokulashtami/Krishna Janmashtami

Kolam to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna

Of the various kolam created on Gokulashtami, drawing the feet of baby Krishna is a custom in Tamil-Nadu and a sign of welcoming the Divine at home. I have always been moved by the women printing with their fists dipped in wet rice flour, tiny footprints from the threshold to the altar.

Onam/Kerala harvest festival

Onam, saying it with flowers — part 2

The traditional ritual of laying pookkalam (floral carpet) or Onapookkalam starts on Atham constellation and ends on Thiruvonam constellation. The ten days are known as Atham, Chithira, Chodhi, Vishakam, Anizham, Thriketta, Moolam, Pooradam, Uthradam and Thiruvonam.

Onam/Kerala harvest festival

Onam, saying it with flowers — part 1

Pookalam or floral carpets are an integral part of Onam celebrations to welcome the return of Mahabali, the legendary king.

Inspiring kolam artists

Inspiring women "Ramamani Hanasoge"

Ramamani lives in Bangalore and she draws daily in front of her Tulasi pot, stories of Krishna on a granite slab with powders.