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The festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the Supreme Gods of vedic Hinduism. Shiva is believed to be an almighty entity who is omnipotent and is present in both the cosmos and atoms. Shiva controls the cycle of birth and death and the creation of all languages, art, dance, music, yoga, ayurveda and herbal remedies among others. He is one of the most worshiped Hindu Gods. Shivratri is observed on the fourteenth day of each lunar month, the day before the new moon. Out of the twelve Shivaratri that fall within a year, the February–March Mahashivratri, is the most spiritually significant. There are several beliefs surrounding the significance of Mahashivratri. The legend of Lord Shiva and Parvati's union is among the most well-known festival stories. It is thought that in order to wed Lord Shiva, Mata Parvati underwent tremendous penance after which Mata Parvati ultimately won Lord Shiva's heart. Their marriage took place a day before the new moon in the month of Phalgun. Spiritually, this union represents the fusion of knowledge and energy. It is also known as the union of Shiva and Shakti and is believed that during this night, the northern hemisphere of the Earth is positioned in such a way that there is a natural increase in human energy. It is the perfect time for people to reach their spiritual zenith on this day. It is believed that on the night of Shivaratri the supreme lord performs the divine dance or Tandava. The Tandava represents the end of the universe and the beginning of a new and pure life form. This dance is thought to depict the universe's cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Shaiva Hindus (those who follow Shiva) mark this night as "overcoming darkness and ignorance" and reawakening, celebrated by keeping a "jaagaran," an all-night vigil and prayers. Devotees offer fruits, leaves, sweets, and milk to Lord Shiva. Some people also worship Shiva in tantric or Vedic forms, while others chant the Panchakshari mantra. Offerings of fruits, leaves, sweets and milk are made to Shiva, some perform all-day fasting with Vedic or tantric worship of Shiva, and some perform meditative Yoga. In Shiva temples, "Om Namah Shivaya", the sacred Panchakshari mantra of Shiva, is chanted throughout the day. Devotees praise Shiva through the recitation of Shiv Chalisa. Maha Shivaratri is celebrated over three or ten days based on the Hindu luni-solar calendar. Every lunar month contains a Shivaratri (12 per year). The main festival is called Maha Shivaratri, or great Shivaratri, which is held on the 13th night (waning moon) and the 14th day of the month Phalguna. In the Gregorian calendar, the day falls in either February or March.

Marble painting is thought to have originated from Italy, that made its way to India and was adapted into an indigenous art form. Creating a marble painting requires a lot of labor-intensive hours and dedication preparing the marble base by painting with neutral hues then sponging colors on it and engraving into the marble chunk. Thereafter, colors and lacquers are added wherein, mineral dyes and organic vegetable pigments are used for colors.  Most royally housed traditional marble paintings contain gold and precious stones, enhancing the beauty and value of these paintings to a greater extent. Marble inlay work- ‘Pachchikari’ or ‘Parchinkari’ can be identified in the monuments of Agra, which spread during the era of Mughal Emperors like Akbar and Shah Jahan.  These immaculately detailed paintings are finely carved on marble using a variety of bright colors combining both classic and modern design elements. These paintings feature a variety of patterns with an extensive use of gold in them.  The themes may widely range from Indian musical instruments, jewelry, pots, statues, vases, royal settings, floral motifs, along with Gods such Lord Krishna and Radha. The sophisticated designs and detailed ornamentation in a miniature form depicting Indian scenes and subjects have been admired internationally for their ornate beauty.  The beautiful marble paintings are exquisite pieces to be included in your home decor that will improve the overall allure of the interiors and exteriors. Bring home a marble painting to brighten up your home and bring a touch of royalty into your space.  Select from a range of traditional or contemporary themed artistically crafted marble paintings available exclusively on Raga Arts website. You could also visit our stores and explore to your heart’s content. These classy paintings are sure to add a dimension to your living room and serve as a luxurious set piece that catches the eye and has a story to tell.

Madhubani paintings are recognised as one of the ancient styles of painting from the Asian sub-continent. They originate from the ancient region of Mithila, located around the Madhubani district in present-day Bihar, India. Madhubani art was practiced widely throughout the region and emerged as a form of wall painting; the more recent development of painting on paper and canvas mainly originated among the villages around Madhubani. That rise in popularity led to the term "Madhubani art" being used alongside "Mithila Painting." Originally, Madhubani Art was practiced onto hut walls and floors of newly plastered mud houses. It was later deemed as “Kulin” art and was practiced by women belonging to the Brahmin and Kayastha castes. These techniques have been passed down through the ages, by the women in Madhubani, with the content and the style remaining consistent. Madhubani painting has remained confined to a compact geographical area and the skills have been passed on through centuries. In recognition, Madhubani painting has been given the GI (Geographical Indication) tag to honor the living tradition of the region. These paintings, characterized by intricate geometrical patterns, with subjects like gods, the sun, moon, flora, and fauna, along with depictions of the royal court and public occasions like weddings being painted in storytelling format. One can also find traditional Hindu motifs with forms such as Tantric, Buddhist, Islamic sufi depictions in a Madhubani painting. In addition to the beauty and simplicity of the paintings themselves, this traditional Indian art form is renowned for its use of plants and other natural sources. Artists create these paintings using a variety of mediums, including their own fingers, or twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchstick. The paint is created using natural dyes and pigments. Eco-friendly materials such as cow dung and bamboo sticks as brushes are used extensively. Vivid and bright colors using lampblack with a contrast of black and brown hues with ochre are well used to form these paintings. With the growing demand, artists have started using cloth, handmade paper and canvas as their media, shifting from wall art. Initiatives have also been taken by artists, connoisseurs as well as the Government to form institutions to teach the craft to young artists in order to preserve and keep the tradition of Madhubani paintings alive.   

Wind Chimes are often seen as common household decorations today. They are popular for their aesthetic value and pleasant sounds that create a peaceful atmosphere inside modern homes. Interestingly, there is a deeply spiritual and historical significance to wind chimes.The ancient Chinese invented wind chimes over 3000 years ago.They believed that wind chimes have a great significance in Feng Shui, where these chimes are called Fenglings. Feng shui is an ancient Chinese system of arranging buildings, objects and space in an environment to achieve harmony and balance. Feng shui means “the way of wind and water.” Some cultures claim wind chimes can be used to drive away evil spirits and attract positive energy.Wind chimes started to gradually spread across the world through the East-West trade, finally making it to Europe and the Americas. Due to their natural appeal, wind chimes spread across homes and gardens all over the world.According to the Vedic system of Vasthu Shastra , wind chimes support the harmony and alignment of chakras in the human body and help get rid of any ‘Vastu dosha’ - understood as bad luck or negative energy.Similar to the resonance of Tibetan singing bowls and tuning fork wind chimes are believed to have healing powers. Some claim that their soft, melodious chiming aids in releasing unfavorable energy and bringing clarity.One can find a number of wind chimes with traditional designs and carvings. The most widely used bell or rod numbers in wind chimes to draw in good energy are six and eight. Using a chime with five rods is advised for people seeking to quell negative energy.Hanging a chime with an image of the Buddha in the north-east direction is said to promote spiritual development. The symbols on wind chimes determine their placement in a home. In Feng Shui, It is ideal to place them near the main door to keep the positive energy circulating throughout a living space. It is also believed that wind chimes should never be placed above or on the front of a door.While you can hang wind chimes any place in your house, it is recommended that you explore such details so you can gain desired effects. #blog #blogpost #homedecor #traditionalart #windchimes #decor #wallhangings #hangings 

Hindu Temple architecture has been developed to emulate a confluence of the arts, dharmic ideals, moral principles and the vedic way of life. Traditionally a Mantap or Mandapam signifies a pillared structure with distinctive Hindu Temple architecture and symbols. A pooja mandap (ceremonial pavilion) features an inner sanctum or the garba-griha (womb chamber) where the deity presides. The outer sanctum contains a vimana, a tower-like structure covered with symbolic carvings. The modern pooja mantapa has been adapted to house deities and idols within individual homes and are predominantly crafted with precious wood varieties. Vastu Shastra (Vedic Architecture Principles) considers Sheesham wood and Rosewood as auspicious. which are used with impeccable carvings reflecting Hindu temple artworks. The exquisite woodwork mirrors inspirations from vedic temple architecture and is filled with Hindu symbols and revered objects. House mantapas can also be made of stone such as granite that is used for ornate traditional temple carvings. A pooja mandap is a special gathering place for the family or devotees who can come together and pray in unison, especially on special occasions to ceremoniously worship the divine and seek blessings. A home temple also serves as an object to aspire as a rite of passage from one generation to the other. It enables elders to instill religious values, morals and traditions in youngsters. In a Hindu temple, all the cosmic elements that give birth to and celebrate life - fire, water, earth and other depictions of the divine are symbolically shown. Also represented are the fleeting sounds of bells, incense smells are blended in with Purusha—the eternal nothingness that is the universe. In temples, mandapas often lie between the sanctuary and the temple entrance. In a large temple other mandapas may be placed to the sides, or detached within the temple compound. The four pillars of a Mantapa symbolize the four stages of life as per the Hindu Vedas – Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa. Furthermore, the pillars also signify the four important aspects of a human life – Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. There are primarily two styles of temple architecture - Nagara in northern India and Dravidian in the south. There is also a third style, the Vesara Style, which is a fusion of the Nagara and Dravidian styles of architecture. In South India, a pillared hall or porch in a Hindu temple - that may be attached or detached from the building - is called a mandapam. The shape and significance of the architectural components of a Hindu temple are intended to serve as the site where man and the divine connect, facilitating man's advancement toward spiritual knowledge and truth—what Hindus refer to as moksha—and his emancipation. Mandapas at home serve the purpose of a dedicated space for divinity. It honors and houses depictions of deities, exalted spiritual masters and ancestors. A mandapa is an enduring symbol of vedic spirituality..

Silk painting is a type of traditional painting deeply rooted in Asian cultures like China, Japan, Vietnam, Tibet and India. The most well-known religious painting is the Tibetan Thangka which is made on cotton or silk appliqué or on Chinese scroll paintings. Historically, this form of textile painting has its origins in China with one of the earliest Chinese silk paintings still in existence being a 2-meter-long T-shaped artwork from the Mawangdui that dates back roughly to 165 BCE (2100 years ago). The earliest evidence of silk dates back to more than 8,500 years ago and has been found at the early Neolithic Age tombs of Jiahu, China. The production of silk originated in Neolithic China within the Yangshao culture (4th millennium BCE). Though it would later reach other places in the world, the art of silk production remained confined to China until the Silk Road opened at 114 BC, though China maintained its virtual monopoly over silk production for another thousand years. The use of silk within China was not confined to clothing alone, and silk was used for a number of applications, such as writing. Within clothing, the color of silk worn also held social importance, and formed an important guide of social class during the Tang dynasty. Silk painting can also be recognized within Vietnam's traditional craft, known as Tranh lụa. Several antique silk paintings, including portraits of Nguyễn Trãi, Phùng Khắc Khoan, Trịnh Đình Kiên, Phan Huy Cẩn, Phan Huy Ích, Phan Huy Thực, and Phan Huy Vịnh from Lê and Nguyễn dynasty are considered amongst the oldest known relics of Vietnamese silk painting. Silk painting in India dates back to the second century A.D., when silks were decorated using the wax resist technique. It reached its height of popularity during the Mughal Empire (17th–19th centuries), when numerous wall hangings and portrait paintings were created. Marking the beginning of an incredible creative process in creating textile art with the method of employing conventional materials, with pure silk cloths stretched in a frame and applying textile paints or dyes. Basically, a resist is anything that prevents dye from reaching the fabric, it resists the dye. There are two major categories of resists commonly used for silk painting : Guttas and Water-soluble resists. Solvent based Gutta is a thick substance that is derived from Indonesian rubber trees (Gutta Percha). Gutta, which is a rubber like latex derived from the plant of Gutta-percha, started to be used in silk painting as a resist to help achieve finer patterns. Indian silk paintings have a distinct style with the emphasis on the beauty, softness, and flexibility of design which make it unique. Silk is skillfully utilized as a canvas for portraits and painting. Another distinctive feature that serves to draw attention to the designs is the extensive usage of gold. Rich court life, religious themes, and epic stories are frequently depicted in silk paintings. Gold, diamonds, and glitter can also be noted to be frequently used.