Nairobi 6 - Masai market

The handicrafts of Kenya are in sale through the Masai market. Group of artisans along with their hand work set up this sales at different places each day around Nairobi. You would want to buy everything that is showcased. Each product is a testamen to their wonderful talent. Colors are so fantastic and the mix and match of it makes you awestruck.

We happen to go to the Masai market at city hall. A huge ground made available that day of the week. Went around first to decide what to buy. It was one difficult choice as the work of art is so fantastic.

Main items were - masai beads and kazuri beads jewelry, beaded bowls and articles, basket bags, masks, batik art wall hangings, footwears in black sole and colourful straps, wooden articles, animal miniatures in ebony and soapnut, traditional blankets and stoles.

Bargaining is required to buy each item. At one point you need to give in to the artisans as they are fight it out to sell their art. Since most of the buyers are tourists rates told are at an high and have to be brought down by bargaining. On the hindsight, if there is no bargaining we might end up buying more items and energy levels at both sides will not go low. We made sure atleast they are happy/satisfied at the end of each purchase.

Finally while getting back to car realized our hands were full. And the very important question arises - how do we get these packed before the flight back. That said and done, Masai market visit and purchase was worth it. Gave a glimpse of African art and artisans and their strive to take forward the traditional art.

Comments

Anjaneyar Temple - Gerugambakkam, Porur

Very recently we came to know about the Anjaneyar temple built by actor Arjun is at Gerugambakkam. On a Sunday evening we drove towards this place. We need to detour from the Kundrathur main road to reach this temple and from then on we need to face a rough and patchy road. In just 5 minutes one can reach the temple. A small residential street leads to the temple. Very near it one could see few small stalls mushroomed up to sell pooja items. The vehicles have to be parked in the street near the temple gates. First is the corridor were few trees are seen. On taking left is the entrance to the temple and you can see the Lord Anjaneyar much ahead. Here too are few trees uniformly spaced out. There is a coconut farm adjacent to this temple. There is a shelter above Lord Anjaneyar, but for that it is a open air temple. Facing Lord Anjaneyar and to the left and right corner are two shrines - one for Lord Ganesh and the other for Lord Anjaneyar's - Lord Rama, Lord Lakshmana and God...

Dhandayuthapani Temple - Nadupalani

Nadu Palani Murugan Temple - Achirupakkam On a Saturday we decided to go out on a short trip and zeroed-in on Nadu Palani Murugan Temple. Less than 100 kms from Chennai, this was a long time item in the bucket list. Achirupakkam town is where this temple is located. Achirupakkam is near Melmaruvathur. We took the Chengalpet route via Tambaram. Driving through Chromepet, Tambaram and Perungalathur was a mayhem on the Saturday afternoon traffic. We took a break at Manoj Bhavan at Mamandur. Hotel has lost the earlier charm and so was the food. As guided by a person near the hotel, just in 15 kms you can see an arch at the left side on the highway itself for Nadu Palani Murugan temple. From the arch, one has to drive into the village for 6-7 kms to reach the temple, at Perukkarani village. We had to take a ticket of Rs.50 to drive in the car to the small hillock. Around 100 steps, its a easy climb too. At the foot hill are Lord Anjaneyar and Lord Idumban on either sides fo...

Aadi koozh vaarthal

Aadi koozh vaarthal is a religious occasion for most Tamil house holds. In the month of Aadi raagi koozh is served to all thirsty people around the neighborhood. Koozh is prepared and offered to Amman followed by the distribution. While offering koozh there are also other heathly eatables included in the Padayal. The koozh preparation starts a day earlier. Rice is cooked first and raagi flour mixed in water is added to it and cooked till ragi gives a glazed look to the koozh. This is then left over night to ferment. The next day water is added to the koozh to get a drinking consistency. To this we add finely chopped onions as topping and curd to give that cooling effect. Once the koozh is all set we go about the padayal to the almighty Amman. Aadi, the Tamil month solely dedicated to Amman is for celebrating her and her kindness to her devotees. So we first offer the koozh to her in the Padayal followed by white rice and other items. The USP of Aadi koozh is that...

Our wanderings and perceptions

Search This Blog