Playtime with Zoya

winter break

Spending winter break in Udaipur. Guess who else is here?

On a 5 hour drive to Ahmadabad..

Tiger art

By Anurag:  First a pencil sketch and then with colour filled in

Boys only weekend

The three boys in the family had a bit too much fun this weekend when I was out for a couple of days to Delhi. Saturday night movie screening at home, Sunday morning 3-D movie in the theater, lunch outing, a lot of tabla time and milk shakes from our favourite Rainbow juice center. :-)

When asked to pose...

Fooling around before the Tabla concert practice session

 

Fresh off the drawing board

Note for K

Note from Anurag to Kabir on their chalk board.
("a lot" is to be taken with a pinch of salt here)

Batura fan

Ravanayana - videos

We hope to have the full recorded version online soon. But in the meantime, some parts:

Ravanayana by the Vaanar-sena acting company

The navrat time was spent by the kids rehearsing for the play "Ravanayana" - written and directed by Mallika Iyer who happens to be a super-talented mom from our neighbouring building. All parts of the play like acting, dancing, music (tabla), making of sets, invitation cards and posters were done by the kids. Most importantly, it was the kids' first real introduction to Ramayana (except for having read parts of it in different stories). The whole production began at Mallika's home where the kids would go to play to get a break from the rain. And Mallika, in her loving and patient style would answer the kids' questions on why we celebrate Navratri, Dashehra etc. What started with a simple story-telling first transformed into a play that Mallika wrote. Her idea of turning Ramayana (which we tend to see as very black-and-white) into something that is open to interpretation appealed naturally to the kids.
She held readings at her home where kids would ask questions ranging from whether Rama was right or Ravana to how did Kumbhakarna not go potty for 6 months :-). The kids are in the 3-10 age range and quite aptly called themselves the vaanar sena acting company!! Mallika shared videos and other relevant stories with kids and parents, and so the entire journey became a great experience. The idea of a simple play soon transformed into a full production when other enthusiastic parents pitched in to help with other aspects of the play.

Kabir played the part of Kumbhakarna and Anurag was Sugreeva.

One of the many invitation posters- this one was made by Advait G.

 The making of the sets

The making of masks 

Getting the right look

The final look

And the performance

 The vaanar sena dance

 

 

Diwali 2017

Papa's 65th birthday

Dushehra 2017

Dushehra Puja at nana-nani's house

A game of war techniques

old woman with funky glasses

Peacocks, peacocks everywhere

This has been Anurag's obsession over the last several months. Pictures below in chronological order.
The ones with crayon were made by him in drawing class, the water colour ones made under Arti aunty's guidance at her home and the latest craft work using paper plate and sequins was something we did today at home (courtesy iheartcraftythings)