Maatir Blogs

The early morning sun filters through the window. The day ahead involves carving and sanding wood, washing long swaths of fabric, and meticulously placing block after block for hours to create a pattern. This is a day in the life of an artisan block printer in Rajasthan.  What Is Block Printing? Block printing is the process of creating a motif in a piece of wood and using it to color a piece of fabric with a repeating pattern. Rajasthan is known for this art form because the work from there is all hand-crafted.  History During the 12th century, block printing was a flourishing local trade in Rajasthan. By the 17th century, the royal Mughal court spread the art form throughout India, increasing its popularity- and demand.  The Mughal-Maratha wars also changed the course of block printing forever. Artisans were allocated lands close to other block printers. As these small villages of master craftsmen kept popping up, different styles of printing were born: Bagru and Sangan...

So you’ve found yourself in Mumbai with 24 hours to spare. Whether you are visiting for the first time or the hundredth, Mumbai will surely make you fall in love with its charms. Something is always happening in this vibrant coastal city and there is something for history buffs, foodies, and art enthusiasts alike. Popular Attractions The Gateway of India: where the King and Queen of England were famously welcomed to India. The Bombay High Court, Rajabai Clocktower, and the Oval Maidan are all part of a UNESCO Heritage Site. They mark the start of art deco buildings in Mumbai. The Oval Maidan has sports lovers leave politics and religion at the door- no rallies or functions are allowed here.  Spend some time cruising down Marine Drive. It’s part of what is known as The Queen’s Necklace and is a great spot to watch the sunset over the Arabian Sea. The Sea Link. As crazy as it is to say that a bridge with eight lanes of traffic is an attraction, it’s true. It offers great views of the...

Om. One of the most widely known symbols in the world. You might recognize it as the thing you say in a yoga class. But do you know why people use it? The reasons may surprise you. Om as a Symbol Om is a sacred symbol and syllable in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain rituals. Three sounds come together to make the om: a-u-m. They denote many sacred trinities like the qualities of matter which are goodness, passion, and darkness. Others are: thought, speech, and action, past, present, and future, and the Rigveda, Yajurveda, and Samaveda. The last of those are the three Vedic texts from between 1500-1200 BCE. They contain the first use of the concept of om. Om as a Syllable The most common way to write om is what is known as Devanagari ligature, though there are slight variations throughout South Asia. There are two curves that look like the number three with an elongated curve protruding from the center. Above that, you will find a dot with a crescent shape underneath it. Each stroke of the syl...

There is always a story to tell and there’s no better way to tell it than with pictures. From temples to homes, kalamkari artwork has survived the test of time. It has been passed down from generation to generation staking its claim on the world art scene. Origins Named for its technique, kalamkari is a combination of two Persian words: kalam meaning pen, and kari meaning work or craftsmanship. Kalamkari artists use tamarind wood, bamboo, or date palm sticks as the pen to hand paint designs on cotton or silk. It started as a decoration in temples before getting recognition as an art form in and of itself. It was promoted in the Mughal era in what is now the state of Andhra Pradesh in the southeast of India. Story Time Many of the early pieces of kalamkari artwork were used to help tell the stories of Hindu mythology. Large swathes of fabric were painted with deities and heroes from the epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana. When they aren’t taking inspiration from mythology, they oft...

 Whether you’re just starting your exercise journey or have many years under your belt, yoga has become a form of physical fitness for many around the world. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj” meaning “to unite”. Originally taken to mean joining the mind to the body, yoga is also uniting people and building communities. Yoga Through the Ages Mindfulness and creating a space to live in the present moment have been around for a while. Though historians can’t name the first person to practice yoga or even when it first began, we do know that it’s at least as old the Vedic period in 1500 BC. At first, yoga was an exclusively male activity. More specifically, only the men in the highest caste were learning the practices of yoga.  The demographics started changing in the 19th C with the rise of yoga gurus. They started traveling to Europe and the US sharing yoga with anyone who wanted to listen. And people wanted to listen. The modern age of yoga was spurred on by those yogis. ...