Category Archives: Ancient India

A Net of Pearls

Posted on 13/09/2022 by Anu M

At the time of Rhea Kapoor’s August 2021 wedding, I was struck by her pearl net veil, surely the standout feature of the ensemble. Back then I also did a mini poll on the veil with a few folk and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1900s, 19th century, Accessories, Ancient India, Costume, Early 20th Century, fashion, gems, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Bride, Indian fashion, Indian Women, Jewellery, Late 19th century, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Indian Summer

Posted on 26/04/2018 by Anu M

I have been away from wordpress for so so long. Travel meant I couldn’t sit down and write a long post. So a collation of several posts on the Indian summer that I did on tumblr. First up the most … Continue reading →

Posted in 18th century, 1930s, 1940s, 20th century, Ancient India, Art, contemporary fashion, costumes in art, Culture, fashion, Flora, Flowers, Flowers in Literature, India, Indian Aesthetics, indian art, Indian Costume, Indian Flora and Fauna, Indian Literature, Indian Women, miniature paintings, Paintings, Seasons, Women, women in art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mohan Rakesh

Posted on 09/01/2017 by Anu M

Taking the support of history or historical personalities does not make literature history. History compiles and catalogues facts in a time bound manner. This has never been the purpose of literature. To compensate for the vacant chambers of history is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920s, Ancient India, Authors, Buddhism, hindi literature, History, Indian Authors, Indian Literature, Indian men, Literature, My Translations | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ashadh ka ek din

Posted on 25/07/2016 by Anu M

आषाढस्य प्रथमदिवसे मेघमाश्लिष्टसानुं वप्रक्रीडापरिणतगजप्रेक्षणीयं ददर्श॥१.२॥ Ashar has come, filling the southern sky with A cloud, frolicksome as an elephant About to charge, he seems to lower his tusks. (translation of lines from the Meghadoot from here). The month of Ashadh … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 4th century AD, Ancient India, costume design, Costumes in Cinema, Culture, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hairstyles, historical costume, historical dress, historical fashions, historical hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian Literature, Indian men, Indian Theatre, Indian Women, Romance, Sanskrit Drama, Sanskrit Literature, sari drape, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Monsoon Post

Posted on 19/07/2016 by Anu M

I could probably do an entire blog on the seasons in India and the associated poems but for this blog I stick to posting when we are in the midst of a season. More often than not I post on … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Culture, fashion, Flora, Flowers, Flowers in Literature, Hair, historical fashions, History, Indian Authors, Indian Women, Literature, Paintings, Poetry, Sanskrit Drama, Sanskrit Literature, Seasons, vintage art, vintage hair | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Last of Spring

Posted on 06/04/2016 by Anu M

Expectedly has a floral theme. My cousin Sujata who is a habitual sari wearer and looks pretty glorious in it. Taken on a Rang Panchami day @ the Empress Garden in Pune. The celebrations – by a private party who … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Contemporary, contemporary fashion, Culture, fashion, Flora, Flowers, Hinduism, indian festivals, Indian Women, Personal, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Holi

Posted on 24/03/2016 by Anu M

A quick trawl through Holi in Indian art. First up, sculpture at the Chennakeshava temple at Belur. A bit of water sport preparation at the feet of the madanika (photograph via Sandeep). Miniature paintings often feature the ever popular theme … Continue reading →

Posted in 12th century, 1800s, 1840s, 1850s, 19th century, Ancient India, Art, art recreation, Bengal, Costume, costumes in art, Culture, Dance, Early 19th century, fashion, Hinduism, historical art, historical costume, indian art, Indian Costume, indian festivals, Indian men, Indian Mythology, Indian Women, miniature paintings, Paintings, Pakistani Art, Royalty, Sculpture, vintage art, vintage fashion, women in art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A short list of Indian period dramas

Posted on 26/02/2016 by Anu M

While doing posts on contemporary regional Indian period movies, I made a rough list of Indian period films. These are listed below. Some are historicals but the bulk fall into the 19th and 20th century.  The list is fairly rough … Continue reading →

Posted in Actor, Ancient India, Bengali cinema, Bollywood, British Raj, Colonial, Costume, fashion, Film Costuming, historical costume, History, Independence, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian fashion, Islamic Dress, Medieval India, Movies, Mughal India, Old Bollywood, Regional cinema, Regional period drama, regional styles, retro, Sari, Sari Blouse, South Indian Cinema, Vintage, vintage cinema, vintage fashion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

All About the Bindi

Posted on 18/11/2015 by Anu M

The bindi/pottu/sindoor/tikli – whatever name it be known by – is probably the most emblematic of Indian elements of attire and also has a long history. It is symbolic (as a signifier of marital status or of caste),  part of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1860s, 18th century, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1980s, 19th century, 20th century, Accessories, Ancient India, Asia, bindi, Culture, Deccan, Early 20th Century, East Asia, fashion, Hinduism, historical fashions, India, Indian Bride, Indian Cinema, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Women, Late 19th century, miniature paintings, retro, Sanskrit Literature, Sets, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Autumn/Festive Season

Posted on 17/10/2015 by Anu M

We are in autumn but it remains very warm.  Reading autumn poetry is about the only one to keep one’s cool. The skies, growing gradually peaceful, flow like long rivers across heaven, with sandbanks formed of the white clouds and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1760s, 18th century, 2000s, Actor, Ancient India, Art, century, Costume, costumes in art, Culture, Dance, Dancer, Flora, Flowers, ghaghra, Goddess, historical costume, historical dress, indian art, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, indian festivals, Indian men, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, Literature, miniature paintings, Paintings, Sanskrit Drama, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari drape, sari history, Seasons, Women, women in art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment