On Survivors of a Nomadic Existence and a Photo Essay

October 22, 2007 by lathanarasimhan

We have lived in 13 houses across 5 cities in the last 25 years - we just kept moving and moving and moving….and not all of the moving can fairly be blamed on my husband’s transferable job. We kept moving even after he quit bank to join a private concern.

13 proved to be a lucky number for us - my family’s lived in house number 13 for the last 6 years now, the longest ever in a single house. Our fellow travellers have weathered this crazy shifting business for years - furniture, kitchenware, albums, the golu bommai especially the “best out of waste” models my daughter and I made for golu.

Some of our creations like an English Fort, the Howrah bridge and the Cubbon Park (children’s park in Bangalore) din’t survive. This year I din’t keep golu but we took out the warriors who have faithfully weathered our eccentric shifts - some of these are from my college days.

The Indominatble village of Gaul

Those of who still haven’t read The Adventures of Asterix (!!!), please do the human race a service and pick up a copy at the earliest. The Asterix set of paper models are 27 years old.

Asterix and Obelix warming up before they attack the pirates

Rome and the Roman Senate

Doll house - walls are almost crumbling

Kitchen in the Doll House

Bedroom in the Doll House

Drawing Room in the Doll House

Drawing Room in the doll house

Showcase in the Doll House - the drawing in center is Raghavan’s contribution (when he was six)

Paper Village that Lakshmi made when she was 13 years old

Although I din’t take out my large collection this year, Lakshmi did keep a small Golu. This is the second year of Golu at her home. Some pictures of Lakshmi’s Golu

Golu at Lakshmi’s home - three steps made with a table and two planks resting on cardboard boxes

Marapaachi Bommai

Ramar, Lakshmanar, Sitai and Anjaneyar

Ashta Lakshmi

Lakshmi

Saraswathi

5 of the 10 avatars of Vishnu (Dashavataram) - Matsya, Koorma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana

5 of the 10 avatars of Vishnu (Dashavataram) - Parasumrama, Rama, Balarama, Krishna, Kalki

Bala Krishna

Musicians

Radha Krishna

Fruits

Horse

Saraswathi Pujai

This is my entry to JFI-Festive Series hosted by Vee at Past, Present and Me.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Navaratri, kolu, handicrafts, dasara, asterix | 39 Comments

39 Responses to “On Survivors of a Nomadic Existence and a Photo Essay”

on October 22, 2007 at 2:23 pm1 Vee

Wow! Just Wow!

The asterix model is 27 years old! Wow! How do you store then when you move? I mean my strong and sturdy wood furniture bangs up during a move. How do you protect paper mache’s?

Great entry, Latha! Thank you for participating!

Thanks vee for hosting the event! You see paper does’nt break when it falls down!! latha!:))
on October 22, 2007 at 2:23 pm2 Vee

And I love the Doll House!

Thanks!:)) latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 2:30 pm3 Manisha

Those dioramas are just brilliant!

And after looking at those 27 year old Asterix, I want to go read some of that ageless classic!

Super post!

Thanks manisha! I too feel like reading those comics again! We never get tired of those wonderful stories! latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 2:31 pm4 Sirisha Kilambi

What a beautiful post…Loved going thru each and every picture….That was a nice golu….

Thanks sirisha! latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 3:14 pm5 Laavanya

This is absolutely adorable. Handmade really takes it up a notch and the doll house and paper houses look extremely beautiful. The golu looks very good too. This festival really gives a boost to our creativity. I remember how my mom used to come home with some new technique of putting kolam on water or under water that her colleague in the bank talked about during lunch… and we would try all sorts of things to make it work! I used to love doing crafts too as a kid, esp. houses made of cardboard but never tried furniture. I love yours.

Very true laavanya! Art is woven into our lifestyle effortlessly! Festivals are a way to break from the routine and enjoy a relaxed life! Doing this kind of art work is relaxing and fulfilling at the same time! You can doit for your kid now! latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 4:13 pm6 kumudha

Thanks for the wonderful pictures!
Golu is so beautiful!

Thanks kumuda! I too am proud of my daughters golu!:)latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 4:36 pm7 Asha

Whoa!! How beutiful Latha! Arvind grew up reading Asterix. When we introduced those to kids, they fell in love. We have more 30 Asterix comics now, paid LOT of dollars to get every issue so far from a Delhi book store online. We love them!:))

Great collection of Bombes! Beautiful.

Like you, we were Nomads too all my life with my parents and then hubby until we came to North Carolina. We have been here for 11 yrs now in the same house. That’s a miracle! Shortest we have been in few places is 6 mnts in England, when we had to move every 6 months!! Phew!

Great entry!

I too grew up reading asterix comics! Even now I can read them! Nomadic life has surely enriched us and made us more tough! We can learn new things fast and adapt easily! waiting for your dasara lunch dear!:)latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 4:37 pm8 cinnamontrail

The Doll House is so cute….
We call Golu as “Bommala Koluvu” and I just love that!
Lovely Post!!

Thanks cinnamon! latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 4:40 pm9 bee

simply awesome. thanks for sharing.

Thanks bee! Hope you liked our egg entry! latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 5:35 pm10 shivapriya

Nice Kolu Latha, Oh I miss India:(… We call it bommala koluvu. My ammamma use to keep.

Thanks Shivapriya! latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 5:38 pm11 Padma

I am feeling homesick, Lakshmi looks like u had a nice kollu at ur place…. Thanks for refreshing my fond memories attached to this festival.

Thanks Padma!:)) I think even though you stay far you must celebrate our festival in a small way! My friends daughter kept golu in Singapore and it seems they felt they were in India!:))latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 5:41 pm12 Richa

‘best out of waste’ that reminded me of all the artifacts that i made as a kid and filled up my mom’s boxes with
wow! u still have those….sigh!

Thanks Richa!:)) All good things need to be preserved!:)) latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 6:04 pm13 Happy cook

Wow what can i say. These are really treasures.
Wow that is a lot of house to move.

Thanks happy cook! :)) latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 6:19 pm14 vineela yajamanam

Hi Latha,
Nice to see your bommalakoluvu.
Its very very inspiring.
I love those doll houses made with paper
entire house set is made with a good taste. and tons of creativity.
happy dasara.
vineela

Welcome to my blog vineela! Thanks for the sweet words!:)latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 6:30 pm15 Hema

Your asterix set is amazing! I have never seen one like that before. 27 years! It looks as good as new. I have grown up reading asterix and I cant wait for my daughter to get older, so we both can read the classics together and maybe get some asterix models in the future too. The dollhouse is pretty and a true labour of love. Golu s beautiful. My amma has bought me a krishna leela set for next years golu! YAY!!!

Great hema! You too can keep more dolls next year!:)) It is a kind of craze! I always do things at a slow pace. give myself enough time to complete. so I start a month before golu.:))
on October 22, 2007 at 7:00 pm16 prema

wonderful collection. loved the marappachi bommais.. I remember vaguely that i had one when i was very small must be until 6 or 7 i guess.. dont know where it disappeared…
loved the doll houses too. nice looking golu.

Thanks prema!:)) I believe in carrying forward such wonderful traditions!:))With busy schedules people don’t find time for these nice things these days! latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 7:01 pm17 Rohini

Beautiful collection. Nice golu!!

Thanks rohini!:)) latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 7:22 pm18 rockyroadoflove

We used to make doll houses from shoe boxes papered with scraps of wallpaper. I love the upholstered furniture. How you must treasure them to have carried them from home to home thirteen times!

I got the idea for doll house from readers digest book on handicrafts! It is such a fulfilling hobby! And yes I too have used shoe boxes!:)) latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 9:48 pm19 Rajitha

love love love the doll’s house…how adorable…i feel like going out and buying one just for me

Rajitha dear, the doll house is made using waste materials, like old greeting cards, card board boxes and plastic lids! you can have the doll house if you collect waste material and spend some time!:)) latha.
on October 22, 2007 at 11:49 pm20 Suganya

I am dumbfounded by yr creations, Maami. Brings back so many of my childhood memories. I was looking for colour kolams too

Suganya dear, I am happy someone is expecting more from me!!:)) As I did not keep golu no colour kolams! Everything seems difficult till we start doing! latha.
on October 23, 2007 at 12:51 am21 Rajeswari

Divine looking golu by lakshmi and your collections are nice….:))
Where is sundal and thambulam…;D

Oh! I wish I could send you the tambhulam and sundal rajeshwari!:)) latha.
on October 23, 2007 at 1:06 am22 Arun Shanbhag

Latha:
thank you for sharing such a beautiful creation. Loved all the Golus; Your doll-houses are the best!
M too loved your gollus and ever since I got home, she has been bugging me to go to your site and see your post
She was right!
Beautiful

Thanks Arun!:)) My thanks to M too! Can you please tell me the full name of M? latha.
on October 23, 2007 at 1:45 am23 Daily Meals

Great collection and the golu looks beautiful.

Thanks vijaya! latha.
on October 23, 2007 at 2:28 am24 RedChillies

Wow, you have so much patience to do this and they look just beautiful. Loved the murti of BalaKrishna and speaking of Asterix, I need to hunt some of those. Used to love them so much.
on October 23, 2007 at 2:33 am25 outofthegarden

This was just lovely to read and admire — thank you for sharing your carefully-kept treasures

Linda
on October 23, 2007 at 3:13 am26 Smita

How fabulous! What a lovely collection over the years!

Bestest wishes,

Smita
on October 23, 2007 at 4:57 am27 Srivalli

Lathamma, Asterix models are the best and of course your doll house looks so beautiful. I think I should ask Lakshmi to teach Anjana to do this. Was planning to call on to ask what happened..but looks like you were busy taking this shot..Just excellent!
on October 23, 2007 at 5:51 am28 divya

The Doll house is fantastic
can we have a seperate post on how to make a doll house like that ?
would sure love to learn and make one for my daughter
on October 23, 2007 at 9:55 am29 Bharathy

Love the asterix village collections and the dolls house..awesome..
real feast to the eyes…

How creative lathamma and her kids are!!!!! :O
A great big cheer to the survivor dolls..!!
on October 23, 2007 at 12:48 pm30 sra

The Asterix paper models are a visual treat!
on October 24, 2007 at 1:13 am31 sandeepa

Loved that Gaul Village. did you make it ? I have never seen such Asterix Models. Glad too see more Asterix fan here

Your doll house is so cute too. Very creative
on October 24, 2007 at 2:08 am32 musy

Latha ji, this is an awesome post! and i just loved the Asterix models! it brought back cute memories from childhood days :). Each of your posts and recipes is so lovely and detailed, a real bliss to read!
on October 24, 2007 at 7:22 am33 Nirmala Jegadheesan

Wonderful. I wish I were your neighbour!
on October 24, 2007 at 9:22 am34 Rachna

wow this is such an amazing post…loved the asterix and doll house and all the dieties also…esp the dasavatars…
on October 24, 2007 at 3:56 pm35 kribha

Loved all the pics especially the doll houses. Nice post latha ma.
on October 24, 2007 at 11:15 pm36 sheela

just catching up… love the golu photos, brought back a lot of memories… the dioramas are quite interesting too!
on October 26, 2007 at 5:45 pm37 sharmi

very fantastic post! sorry for the delay! I was so held up with house hold work!
on October 26, 2007 at 9:34 pm38 Smriti

Wow! Those projects that your daughter and you made are so lovely! I especially like the “carpet’ in the doll’s room :).
on November 4, 2007 at 9:23 pm39 SeeC

Stunning !!! Excellent work (yours n lakshmi’s)… Really talented.

And Golu padi rombha neat and neatly arranged.

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On Survivors of a Nomadic Existence and a Photo Essay

39 Responses to “On Survivors of a Nomadic Existence and a Photo Essay”

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