Honoring The Arts of Homemaking

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Collecting Water§

In the morning, women meet at the well to gather water for the day and to clean cooking utensils. §

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Bathing§

The women bathe in the river at hidden places specially reserved for them. They apply fresh turmeric root to the skin as a toner, skin color enhancer and anti-bacterial. Early European visitors were so impressed with the daily bathing ritual of Indian women that upon returning home they slowly convinced the rest of Europe of the merits of bathing more than once a week or month.§

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Sanctifying the Doorway§

Here, the home’s entryway is adorned with turmeric paste and red kumkuma powder. The daily morning decoration is a blessing intended to beseech guardian devas to allow entry only to beings, both physical and subtle, who will benefit the family and home environment, rather than causing discord.§

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Decorating the Entry§

As the day begins, kolams are painted at the home entrance. First, water is mixed with cow dung and sprinkled on the ground. Then geometric designs are applied with powdered rice in many colors, guided by a trained thumb and index finger.§

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Caring for Clothing§

Some women bathe in the temple tank. Before the bath, they wash their saris and other garments and spread them on the steps, later to find them fully dried in the hot Indian sun upon returning from their bath.§

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Preparing Rice§

Each day a small quantity of rice paddy is taken from the reservoir and pounded to separate the husk to provide grain for the day’s meals. Pure and religious thoughts are pounded into the paddy as well.§

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Temple Worship§

Before the noon meal, wives visit the temple, bringing an offering basket of coconut, ghee for the temple lamps, betel leaves, flower garlands and fruits. §

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Preparing Meals§

In this scene, vegetables are washed and cut with the aid of a knife-like blade affixed to a wooden platform. The platform includes a seat for the woman, which makes for effortless cutting and minimal fatigue—the original “Cuisinart.” (Right) Once yesterday’s milk cures and becomes curd, it is stirred into butter and boiled into ghee. The woman vigorously churns the frothing liquid in big pots with a ladle of wood turned with a cord.§

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Grooming§

In the evening the wife dons casual or formal dress, combs and braids the hair, marks the forehead with kumkuma and applies jewelry. §

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Care of Children§

During the Dipavali festival a healthful ayurvedic oil bath is given to all. Children are attended to first, in the hour before sunrise. Oil is applied to skin and hair, then rinsed off.§

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Making Garlands§

She collects fragrant flowers and with deft fingers assembles them on fine string according to color. Garlands are used in the shrines and to decorate the pictures of the Gods throughout the home.§

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Caring for the Home Shrine§

Evening is time for cleaning the home’s oil lamps, adding fresh ghee or oil and lighting them in the shrines. The woman prostrates to receive blessings from the Deities and devas who guide her family’s life of dharma. Devotional songs are sung as the day winds down.§

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