Peek Into the Colourful World Of Kathputli! For September 2017

Colour Stories

Did you know puppets have been a form of artistic expression and instruction for 2,000 years? Read more about this colourful performance art…

The word 'kathputli' is derived from the word 'kaath' or wood and 'putli' or toy. Basically, a Kathputli means a puppet made of mango wood. Kathputli is a string puppet performance and is an ancient and well-known form of folk entertainment. It is a tourist attraction in the state of Rajasthan in India and the main centres where they're made are in Jaipur and Jodhpur. The Bhatt community, who are agricultural labourers, make these puppets as well as perform with them from village to village during the dry season when cultivation is not possible.

The puppet performances are based on Rajasthani historical tales, lore and local traditions. It's a light-hearted story telling format that is capable of imparting deep knowledge and wisdom down the ages. It is a captivating form of performance art that is easy to set up anywhere.

The puppets are mostly two feet tall with a wooden head, a huge nose and large eyes. The remaining body is made of colourful and bright pieces of cloth and stuffed clothes, which make it easy for movement. The puppet comes with a long thread for the head, arms and legs which the puppeteer grasps on the other side.

The costumes of the puppets are regional and colourful. While the upper portion of the female puppet is dressed in a choli and an odhni, the male puppets are dressed in achkan and long kurtas to resemble the Rajputs of Rajasthan. A few characters and items like the stunt horse rider, court dancer and snake charmer are necessary in traditional performances.

A small stage is set up using a small bed that is laid by length. The puppeteer turns his puppets over a line attached to the upper legs of the beds. The beds are enclosed with sheets to hide the puppeteer from the public view. He moves the jointed arms of the puppets using strings connected to each of them. The performances contain a lot of shouting and high-pitched sounds as the puppets turn around in a circular motion and move excitedly to the beat of the music or the puppeteer's storytelling.

Puppeteers make use of various sound effects with the help of instruments, music and singing as well. Loud beats on a drum called the dholak declare the starting of the puppet show. The shows usually last about an hour and are enjoyed by people belonging to all age groups.

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For September 2017

1. Black, white and greys are colours but belong to a different category of colour than the classic 12 hues. They are actually not hues as they lack chroma and are called achromatic. However, in order to perceive them, we need a pigment to reflect and absorb light waves. For instance, black is perceived when the entire white light spectrum is mostly absorbed by a pigment. Very little light (although there is always some light) is reflected by the pigment. With pigment, we can always make black darker by casting a shadow on it. White is the result of the entire visible light spectrum being reflected back at high amplitude.
2. Colour is an essential part of how we experience the world, both biologically as well as culturally. Did you know that your colour preferences can also depend on the seasons? According to studies, seasonal variations do affect our colour preferences. Researchers have observed that some types of objects and events tend to come to mind when we view different colours throughout the year. During the fall, a dark yellow-green shade is most likely to remind us of lovely fall leaves, while the same colour in winter might induce a nauseous feeling. Interesting isn't it?
3. Did you know Vantablack is the darkest material ever made by man? In the Antenna wing of the Science Museum in London, a bronze bust of BBC presenter Marty Jopson is displayed behind a wall of glass. The face is approximately 6 or 7 inches tall and is highly textured. Next to it sits an identical bust that is totally mind-boggling. It looks like someone cut a hole in the air in the shape of Jopson's head, but leaving behind a gaping, empty blackness! The texture of the face disappears into a velvety mass. This visual magic is Vantablack, an ominously named coating, which absorbs virtually all light. It was created by the British company Surrey NanoSystems to remove stray light in satellites and telescopes.

Colour Quotes For September 2017

• Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.

  - Claude Monet

• Colouring outside the lines is a fine art.

  - Kim Nance

• Colours express the main psychic functions of man.

  - Carl Gustav Jung

Colour Tips For September 2017

1. Masking tapes and Vaseline may be your everyday home items but did you know that they can also be used extensively for large areas that you wish to keep unpainted. If you have a smaller section that you don't wish to paint, you can cover the area with Vaseline. This is a useful tip for spray painting and you just have to cover the area with Vaseline and then paint. What Vaseline does is keep smaller areas from getting paint on them, so you don't have to worry about having to trim around them. Masking tape does the same job too! Just tape the areas you wish to keep unpainted and then take of the tape later.
2. Worried about taking off the masking tape without pulling on the walls and the furnishings once you're done painting? There is the possibility that the tapes can stick to the wall and end up damaging the surface of those covered areas. Here's an easy tip for you, remove the masking tape without hassle with this simple trick. Heat the masking tape with a small heat gun or blow dryer. Once it is warm, it peels off easily. You can thank us later!
3. Lap marks are those ugly stripes caused by uneven layers of paint build up, which are caused when you roll over paint that's already half dry. The key to avoid lap marks is to maintain a wet edge, so each stroke of your roller overlaps the previous stroke before the paint can begin to dry. To maintain a wet edge, start from a corner and run the roller up and down the full height of the wall. Move backward where necessary to even out thick spots or runs. Make sure to keep the open side of the roller frame facing the area which is already painted. This puts less pressure on the open side of the roller, so you are less likely to leave paint ridges.

World Of Colours

Colours & Emotion For September 2017

1. A combination of red and blue results in a purple shade, however this meets a lot of disagreement by people, owing to their varying eye sensitivity to red and blue. Colours affect us on many different levels – emotional, physical and intellectual. Purple as a colour is used with caution as its pale shades are serene and restful but its darker shades make it difficult to focus. Gloom and sad feelings are usually portrayed by using purple in paintings. Purple is believed to be tiring on the eyes, causing a sense of frustration. On the other hand, there are people who find it a good colour to use when meditating! They believe that surrounding themselves with purple can bring peace of mind.
2. Do you know why rainbows make us happy? The colours of a rainbow are fresh, light and inviting. They all have their own beauty and meaning that invoke feelings and beliefs unique to each of them. Also, since rainbows are so rare, it elicits a sense of delight and awe as a whole when you experience one. All seven colours of the rainbow passing through the eyes trigger hormones that make us feel good. It's known to actually correct imbalances and create harmony in the body!

Colours & Fashion For September 2017

Did you know that the green, black, and tan design that is popularly known as 'Camouflage' is more than a century old? It all began in the First World War with uniforms and military trucks being hand-painted to blend in with natural environments - a tactic first employed by French military units called 'camoufleurs' in the year 1914. With the mass production of this camouflage fabric in the Second World War, it was quickly adopted by the fashion world. Camouflage has stood the test of time and is evolving with every fashionable commodity, be it purses, scarves, jeans, shirts, bags and even phone covers flaunting it!

Colours & Gems For September 2017

1. Sugilite is named after the Japanese geologist who discovered the first specimens, 'Ken-ichi Sugi'. It is opaque with a waxy lustre and ranges from pale greyish lavender to a deep dark purple. It is also known as 'Royal Lavulite' and 'Royal Azel.' The most significant occurrence was in 1975 in the Kalahari Desert, Northern South Africa. In 1979, a large deposit of gem grade Sugilite was found 3200 feet below its original discovery. It is said that Sugilite strengthens the heart, aids physical healing and combats stress. It is also known to balance the mind, body and spirit. It is also suggested that Sugilite protects and dissipates anger and other negative energies.
2. Variscite is a rare phosphate that is often confused with Chrysocolla or the greener forms of Turquoise. Colours are light bluish green, medium and dark greens. It has a waxy lustre and takes a fine polish. Variscite is found in the United States (Utah, Nevada), Germany, Australia (Queensland) and Brazil. It has many names like Barrandite, Bolivarite, Utahlite and Lucinite. It is believed to help remember past lives. It is also known to balance the central nervous system and cure depression, fear, worry, anxiety and impatience. It's believed to be an effective meditation stone.

Colours & Nature For September 2017

1. The Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) is a species of the Marine Angelfish. It is a reef-associated fish from the Indian and Pacific Ocean. It remains a photographer and artist favourite, owing to its unique, brilliant pattern of coloration. Interestingly, they undergo changes in three stages; namely Juvenile, Intermediate and Adult, spanning up to two years. In the Juvenile stage, it exhibits white circles across a blue/black body with a clear tail until it is about four inches. In the Intermediate stage, it exhibits a similar white circle pattern but with lateral yellow lines crossing through the white circles. Eventually, the white circles disappear to make room for the beautiful yellow colouring that the fish is known for. The tail begins to transition from clear to classic yellow. Once the fish is about six inches, it usually reaches its final coloration form. As an adult, the beautiful blue body gets covered with bright yellow horizontal stripes!
2. The Red-Bearded Bee-Eater (Nyctyornis Amictus) is a large species of bee-eater from the Indo-Malayan sub-region of South-east Asia. This species is found in openings of patches of dense forest. It nests in burrows tunnelled into the side of sandy banks. It is a colourful bird with a long tail, extended curved beak and pointed wings. It is predominantly green in colour with a red patch that extends onto the slightly hanging throat feathers to form a 'beard'. It eats insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets and hunts either alone or in pairs rather than in flocks. It sits motionless for long periods before attacking its prey.

Decor

Best Colours To Paint a Kitchen

Kitchens don’t have to be boring places where you trudge along to make meals for your family. Brighten them up with bright colours that can inspire and encourage healthy living. Read on…

Are you trying to look out for some trendy paint colours for your kitchen walls? Firstly, you need to decide if you want to find a kitchen colour that will liven up your cooking space or help you create a calm and tranquil haven? Let us help you with kitchen paint ideas that help you feel more at home!

The heart of the home - the kitchen, must appease the tastes of many. Choosing the right kitchen colours then becomes a crucial task. Let's begin with the basics.

Colour is a great design tool that can completely modify the mood of a kitchen. It can change your perception of the space, making it feel brighter or wider, attracting the eye towards features that you wish to highlight. And, of course, it's a great way to express your personality!

Whatever your taste, there's a guide to help you pick the perfect colour scheme for your kitchen. You need to consider the colour, design and style of your floors, cabinets and countertops as well before you touch the paint brush.

Cool paint colours paired with warm woods are a great choice for a kitchen. You can opt for cooler, calm kitchen paint colours like green, blue and violet to create a serene and fresh atmosphere.

You can also try choosing warm and inviting colours like orange, red and yellow that relates closely to food and stimulates the appetite, offering an appetizing environment for you and your family.

Whatever kitchen colour schemes you are drawn to, no preference is ever wrong - It’s just a personal choice. Your choices denote freedom of expression and rightly so!

Now that you have several colour combinations you can use, we hope you found some interesting colour ideas for your kitchen painting project!

Feng Shui For September 2017

Do you know about the wish fulfilling Feng Shui crystal tree? It is known to bring good luck, wealth and harmony in one’s family life. Read on to know all about it...

Make Your Dreams Come True!

Real-life wish-fulfilling trees are a common sight in several Asian countries like China and Hong Kong. Believers toss wishes inscribed on red incantation papers at the tree, along with juicy mandarin oranges, hoping that their wishes come true.

But this isn't the only wish-fulfilling tree, a Feng Shui crystal tree has also been displayed in homes and offices to bring monetary benefits and financial support for ages.

Different gemstones ranging from Amethyst to Agate, Mother of Pearls to Corals and many more, are used in the crystal tree to fulfil various purposes. Every gemstone has the authority along with the persuasive energy to unbolt the hidden strengths of an individual.

With a Feng Shui tree, each crystal is equal to a single leaf. More the crystals, the better! Chinese coins are believed to increase the value of this tree. You can have different effects with the inclusion of various flowers and fruits to it.

Learn some Feng Shui tips regarding the placement of this interesting good luck symbol:

1. Display this Feng Shui Crystal tree in the Northeast corner (Feng Shui Bagua formula) of a student's bedroom to bring luck in educational prospects.
2. Position the Crystal Tree in the Earth sector (centre) of the main family room to improve harmony and strengthen the bond between family members.
3. Display the Crystal Tree in the Southwest sector (governor of romance and love luck according to the Feng Shui Bagua formula) of your bedroom or main family room to increase luck in the areas of love, romance and family, as well as the wellbeing of the family matriarch.
   The Crystal Tree is believed to be highly effective in the Southwest sector because of the Earth element. It is known to foster closeness between spouses and bring back the spark in a dull relationship.
4. Place this Crystal Tree near your sleeping area for a restful, peaceful and rejuvenating sleep.

The Feng Shui Crystal Tree makes for an excellent adornment to your living space and you can try it to enhance the quality of your life!

Reiki For September 2017

Did you know that Reiki can help patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD) or ‘Shaking Palsy’? Read further to know more...

Treating Parkinson's Disease with Reiki

Parkinson's disease is a chronic and progressive disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects motor skills and movement. It occurs due to nerve cell damage in the brain that causes dopamine levels to drop. This results in the person's inability to control any body movement.  The symptoms of this disorder include hand tremors, stiffness, slowness of movement, loss of coordination and impaired balance.

Though there is little research into the benefits of Reiki in Parkinson's, it is known to show great results in reducing pain, providing relief and altering mood one's mood for the better.

Besides treating those who are afflicted with this debilitating disease, it is also beneficial for the family and caregivers as well. The calming and healing energy of Reiki is believed to address the mind, body as well as the soul. Many have reaped the benefits of Reiki in bringing overall peace and calm to patients as compared to other alternative therapies.

• Mind – Reiki soothes the mind, relieving stress, thereby harmonising and balancing the emotional state.
• Body – Reiki energy helps to nurture, nourish and heal damaged tissue. It encourages the body's natural healing and detoxifying processes. It also helps release any energy blockages.
• Soul – Reiki channels 'life force energy' and engages with the soul, healing it from very deep within.

Some of the potential benefits in Parkinson's as spoken by the Reiki Masters are:

• the channelling of Reiki energy to the part of the brain that takes care of dopamine levels
• improvements in the blood-brain barrier function so that Parkinson's medication can be delivered to the brain effectively
• improvements in the body's vitality and natural healing processes by channelling energy into the organs that are affected by the medications of Parkinson's

It is to be noted that each person responds differently to Reiki. It is seen to combat feelings of negativity which may help take care of any underlying depression.

Reiki is non-invasive and the healing is done on the entire body - the front and back chakras. Special healing of the crown chakra is done with the emotional healing symbol. Hands are placed at least 4-5 inches away while healing, and paying attention to the colours seen while doing Reiki is known to be insightful.

Now that you know about the role of Reiki for those suffering from Parkinson's disease, you can adopt Reiki with allopathic or other therapies for better living!

Vaastu For September 2017

A fish aquarium according to Vaastu can take care of several Vaastu defects in your living space. Read on to know how to use it for success and harmony in your life...

Vaastu & Colours!

According to medical research, staring at aquariums brings peace and tranquillity to our mind. It is known to cure high blood pressure, stress and anxiety.

Before we get into the Vaastu aspects of a fish aquarium, let's first understand the symbolic importance of the elements within the fish aquarium:

Water inside the aquarium represents life. If the water inside the aquarium is moving by a pump or some other device, then it represents liveliness or a positive flow of energy in life.

The sound and motion of gurgling water activates 'chi' and adds humidity to a dry room, helping balance one's 'chi'.

If placed right and handled with care, it is believed to attract the energy of wealth and abundance.

As per Vaastu, it is best to place aquariums in the North, East and North-East areas of your living room. It is advised that the aquarium be kept only in the living room or drawing room and no other location inside the home.

Do not place the aquarium in the kitchen or bedroom as it is believed to cause food and sleep-related problems.

Colourful, attractive and active fish draw the attention of guests and they remain more focused on the aquarium. Any negative or evil energy they release is believed to be absorbed by the aquarium and it gets converted into positive energy. The number of fish in the aquarium is recommended to be nine. It is considered auspicious to keep a combination of dragon and gold fish.

Make sure that the aquarium is well aerated, clean, hygienic and serene, and uses water filters, water pumps or water circulating devices. Beautify the aquarium with the help of decorative stones and plants. Also, see to it that only one person feeds the fish regularly.