Celebrating a Decade: Semla Samay (Semla Time)

Last published for the 4th time on February 26, 2020. Here it is again, since we just passed Fat Tuesday. Semla is my all time favourite Swedish dessert.  I still have not learnt how to make it... but soon, soon...

So last published on October 4, 2019, to celebrate the popular posts of the last decade ---it is being published again for yesterday was Mardigras, fat tuesday or as we say in Sweden Fettisdag---I have another one on the theme but will come later.  For enjoy this long old post and may it be spring, no matter which hemisphere you are in...
Or wait, that is not nice, for we should have all the seasons...let it be spring in your heart, now, forever--eternally...


______________________

Last published on March 6, 2018, this was actually the third most popular blogposts.  But I have lost track of order and so will just be posting these under the title--celebrating a decade.  Semla remains one of the most delicate Swedish sweets I have ever tried.  It truly represents the lightness of spring, sweetness of flowers and happy chirping of birds.  You look at it and take a deep breath in--and say, 'Semla!!!'

__________

It seems its the season for republishing!!  Cannot believe how long ago this was---first post on Semla.  Something so simple but so sweet!!  I fell in love with it, the very first time. Till today, it remains a favourite.  The season is gone, since fat tuesday (fettisdag) was a while ago....but am hoping that there will be one last serving of it around easter time.  Much that I love Sweden's restrictive ways of limiting sweets to certain celebrations, Semla is one sweet, that is welcome ANYTIME!! 

First published on April 29, 2011:  Here is for my dear loyal readers!!  Find a recipe online and try it at home, and share your reactions---om du vill---if  you want!!

.

Semla is a classic Swedish (Scandinavian) dessert. Semla

Served (and eaten) on Fettisdag (Feb (fat) tisdag (tuesday) Semla or bulle is the famous spring time desert of Sweden! At Vete Katan tea is served formally--with individual lidless kettles, with a tea strainer holder and ofcourse a proper porcelain cup and sauce, complete with a serviette. 

Wheat Cat (Vete Katten). A cosy but fancy restaurant in Stockholm.

My friend P, is from Brazil, so is fluent in Portugese.  But she also speaks, English, and Swedish, with the same fluency as her mother tongue.  Currently she is learning Spanish.  She says she is also very interested in learning Arabic.  She brought me to this restaurant.

Semla has a filling of almonds folded in whipped cream.  Here the top portion of the bun has been removed to show the cream.  The bun itself is slightly sweet.  Together with light weight bun and Mandel (almonds) in whipped cream, the taste is simply ‘smakar himlen’ (tastes like Heaven).

In the 'olden' days, meaning say 30 years ago, Semla was sold & served only on MardiGras/Fettisdag.  So, people waited for a whole year to eat the desert.  We visited Vete Katten in January, but they had were already serving Semla.  So, in our present day modern world, where we prefer ‘on-demand gratification’ Semla is served for a few weeks between Christmas and Easter.  Nearly three months.  

It is that time of the year when all over then Northern Hemisphere there are special traditions to mark the change in time, acknowledge the lengthening of days, the relenting of winter, notice the defrosting lakes, heed the call of new saplings, listen to the roar of breaking of the ice that had lay sleeping over the last 5 months.

Today, March, 2011, Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) is also the Semla Day

A note: as I sit down to complete this, it is already first week of April. So, dates become ultra important in giving a frame of reference. This may be late, but believe me this post has a point….:))

Mardigras, is usually associated with festivities, especially the carnival in Brazil. A huge party before 40 days of lent.

Lent, as Catholics know, is the forty days before Easter.  According to wikipedia, "The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer --through  prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I learnt about Lent when I lived in Botswana.  A close friend would observe Lent.  I loved the idea.  Although growing up in India, in a family that followed Hindu customs, I knew much about fasting.  But when I heard things like, “I am giving up coca cola or Chocolate  for Lent.  I am giving up swearing for Lent” I found it fascinating that fasting could be used to kick addiction or things similar. I guess in India fasting is such a usual part of our everyday life that we never think of doing it for forty straight days.  Well, we do, but it is not that standardized.  (Nothing in Hinduism is standardized.  There is nothing that everyone must do.  May be that is why there so many ‘ways’ of doing the same thing.  Simply to acknowledge the diversity in our world).  Although there is something called the “chaliya” (meaning ‘the forty”).  Chailya usually applies to doing something for forty days straight, e.g. Walking bare-feet to a specific temple, reciting a 3 page prayer once everyday for forty days, etc.

However, fasting in Hindusim is a life-long, on-going, never stopping phenonmenon.  Practically everyone born in a hindu family does it at some point, to a certain degree.  Yes, there are degrees of fasting.  No grains for a day, a fast without water, a fast with only fruits, and sugar, no salt fasting, and the list goes on.  It is common for people to fast once a week--which amounts to 52 days a year, for several years or their entire adult life.  Also, we have several one-day-once-a-year fasts--which can easily add extra ten to twenty days of fasting. During these days, one usually abstains from meat (flesh foods is better way of putting it.  Fish and chicken are included when Indians talk of ‘meat’), onions and garlic, eggs, and many other things.).  

So those observing Lent abstain from ‘something’ for forty days.  After I moved to the US, I would know Lent by Ash Wednesday.  Ash Wednesday is the day after Fettisdag or Mardi Gras.  Essentially the day Lent begins.  Catholic students would come with a cross on their forehead, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust”, a reminder that we were all going to return to the dust we came from.  The cross made of ash on the forehead of each believer (or those who attend the church on Ash Wednesday) serves as a reminder of a period that is associated with mourning and self-appraisal. Basically examining what Jesus did for us, and then asking ourselves where we are on that ‘scale’ of sacrifice. 

In many ways then, it is a death within, to resurrect to a new self.  

Here, I cannot help but think of something I learnt in Fiji.  That Chautal, song-singing festival that starts on Basant Panchami, the first day of Spring in North India, ends forty days later on Holi--a spring festival celebrated in North India.  Holi is celebrated everywhere North Indians went----from Suriname to Fiji to Guyana to South Africa to Kenya…..

The festival is celebrated by throwing color and flower petals on each other and ofcourse followed by a huge feast. 

A day before Holi, there are bon fires all over the country.  Although a few stories are associated with it.  The main reason is to ‘burn’ and forget the old, and begin with the new.  I knew all the stories associated with Holi and loved the festival, but no one had ever told me about the forty days between Basant Panchami and Holi.  A friend in Fiji just stated it matter-of-factly. 

That made me confirm, what I have always believed-that there are similarities in religions and philosophies, that were always a response not to some divine command, but basic human consciousness, or maybe some sort of an organic order --which knows no boundaries, nations, religions, philosophies or languages.  Like blood, though its constitution (different blood types) may differ, or it performs the same function.  Nourishment!!

Forty days!!  What is the significance of forty days?  I had heard somewhere that 40 days is a month and half, - the time needed to break an old habit or establish a new one.  I believe that these time periods, that may be applied to our subconscious, were very important in establishing the festivals that, combined with seasonal changes would bring us stories that would be passed down the generations.  And these stories, with a little variation, will be told around the world.  

For example, Holi falls in the same time period as Easter.  What time period? Spring!! Seasonal change. Which, we all know, affects the state of our mind.  

And as if these similarities are not uncanny enough, here are some more.  

Passover a Jewish holiday is also a spring festival, celebrating the freedom of Jews.  ‘Freedom’, resurrection, newness, new life.

Noruz --meaning New day is a Persian festival that is celebrated on March 20, the day of spring equinox, when day and night are the same length.  How do they celebrate it?  With bonfires, dancing around bonfires and coloring boiled eggs.  Wait, isn’t that Easter?  Or Holi?

March 20, in Sweden is called Vårdagjämningen--(Var-Spring, Dag, day, jamningen-Equinox--Spring Equinox).  March 25th is called Varfrudagen  or the Spring Lady day.  Vafrudagen sounds very much like "Våffeldagen" meaning‘Waffle Day’.  The holiday coincides with the Feast of Annunciation, the day when Archangel Gabriel announced to Mother Mary that she will give birth to Jesus, despite being a virgin.  Notice, March 25, is exactly 9 months before December 25.  Very carefully chosen, the day also symbolizes conception, newness, a new idea, new birth, and hope.  On Vaffeldagen, the Waffle day, last year my landlord Erik had made waffles for us (me and my french flat mate A) at midnight. “Since you will not be here C,” he had said, “I am going to cook for you today”  I had a research retreat to attend on 25 and 26th. 

I thought it was a wonderful tradition.  Later I would find out that Sweden has another ‘heathen holiday” (that is the term I have heard my colleagues use a lot--but as a matter of fact and without any judgement).  That day like Holi, and Noruz, there are bon fires and with people dancing around it…..all over the country to ‘ring in the spring’.  April 30 Walpurgis Nacht (Walpurgis Night), a festival associated with bonfires, and dancing. (Many other European countries observe the day and celebrate it with bonfires, dancing and singing.  According to legends, bonfires are to turn away witches and evil spirits). 

Hmm, forty days, bon fires, abstaining from things that have control over us, dancing, colors, coloring eggs, bunnies, chickens, new life, green and feathers…...see some similarity?  

We are all celebrating nature freeing itself from the clutches of winter, recognizing that in death lies the seed of birth and rebirth.  We may call it by different names, we may call them religious or heathen, Pagan or Christian or Jewish or Hindu or Muslim, but deep down we are all looking for reasons to get together and recognize that inherent need for ‘newness, new life and most of all hope.”  

Is it a surprise then that March 17, is St. Patrick’s day?  And it is celebrated by drinking green beer and wearing green for good luck?

April 13 is Baisakhi in north India.  A harvest festival and people wear yellow and there are melas (fairs) all over north India.  

Water Festival Celebrations in   Thailand (Image Courtesy)

In Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai) April 13-15, is the time for Songkran (Sanskrit: Sankranti), the water-festival. (Sankranti, in India is celebrated on January 14th symbolizing the beginning of end of winter). 

Hmm, Just a coincidence? 

Newness brings hope!!

It cleans the windows of the mind, and prepares us to see things are they are.  Fasting was necessary before initiation for many shamanic religions. It was supposed to bring ‘clarity of mind‘ that was necessary before ‘transcending the limits of the body.’I am sure I am sure there are others that I do not remember and/know.  I am sure that before the world was taken over by the idea that one religion or thought process should rule the world there were different festivals in southern hemisphere where seasons came in inverse order to that in the northern hemisphere. Christmas and Easter in Botswana and Fiji made little sense.  

For years I held this anger over the fact that often times people are asked to or taught to believe, especially in the religions of conversion that their form of faith is the only way to the divine.  I could not believe that young people with rational thoughts could agree with it.  But having lived in so many countries, I have seen it happen all the time.  Why would we hail democracy as an appropriate form of governing system (the best among all others tried so far), but not question the limiting ways we are told to think of the divine (if such a thing exists), are taught with fear, ‘if you do not believe this….then….” or “until you believe this….”  

Thankfully,many keep the debate alive, so there is still room for some hope.  The saddest part is that I have heard these forms of beliefs from both the very young and the very educated--both of these groups are known to be rational and unbiased.  If youth and education does not free us from limitations of rigidity, then what else…

But after  years of frustration----

Today, I simply let it all go.  (or am walking towards that path).  

Try to work on Gandhian idea of “khud jiyo auron ko bhi jeene do” (Live and let live).  I will talk about this in detail else where.  (still not always successful).  

I have little time or energy to go into the details of my own re-conversion to Asian philosophies. I celebrate all the spring and winter festivals I can, regardless of what geographical region or religion they belong to.  People must come to terms with their own ‘birth’ in their own sweet time.  I am grateful that my thought process and the way I was raised encourages me to accept that the ‘truth is one, and the wise call it by different names.” (Rig Veda).

For me though, Semla Samay (time) is to see life and celebrations like Semla itself….sweet like the sweet Semla bun, light and fluffy like the whipped cream, but most importantly sugary--the sweetness that has been blended into everything, almonds that are crushed and whipped in the cream, you feel them, you relish them, a little nutty, a little sweet, and no right way to eat it….you can lick the cream or chew the bun first, or eat it like cake, ---no right way to eat it---like life itself. 

As Emerson  said, Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment.” 

Let Semla Samay be your own personal renewal time, (at least for those in the northern hemisphere.) Every Easter Noruz, Passover, Holi, --Feb to April, ---go through a self-appraisal process and ask yourself….if it feels like spring in your heart…..because it should!!

Friends and Celebrations: Dancing around the bon fire on Noruz. Karlstad, Sweden, 2011

Fire that burns the old and brings he newness of spring. 

A close-up of happy dancers.  

Two boys play with the last of snow around the bon fire: Noruz celebrations by the Kurdish community of Karlstad. 2011. 

And we have a cute little Kurdish spiderman who joined us for celebrations.  He left two of his front teeth behind.  But superheroes don't need teeth...and they are not afraid of grinning even when they are missing their teeth.... Or may be, brazenness is in the air...It is spring and we are all new, free of fear, free of labels, we begin again....Happy Spring to all of you....

Celebrating a Decade Santa Lucia: Saint of Light (5th Most popular post)

Am slipping already.  But here it is, first published in 2011, and last in August of 2019. No concerts this year -=--but enjoy some images. 

First published on December 8, 2011, here is the fourth most popular post on this site.  Some of these posts remind me how long I have been writing this blog and how I have tried to learn about this country and its culture. I truly enjoy most of Swedish festivals and celebrations.  Santa Lucia is one of the calmer ones.  After 2011, i have tried to attend these ceremonies every year.  Not always successful since the ceremony starts at 7 a.m, which is too early and too cold for Decembers.  But whenever I have done that, a shower of light and happiness washes over me.

A hope alights. 

Now, Ms. Lucia, the lady of light has visited and we can start to see chinks in the darkness, which will only grow for the next six months.  Here is a short video

Lucia-The bearer of light (another Video)

The above pictures, as is obvious were borrowed from the net.  And the following is directly copied from the invitation from the University. 

Along side Midsummer, the Lucia celebrations represent one of the foremost cultural traditions in Sweden, with their clear reference to life in the peasant communities of old: darkness and light, cold and warmth.

Lucia is an ancient mythical figure with an abiding role as a bearer of light in the dark Swedish winters.

The many Lucia songs all have the same theme

The night treads heavily

around yards and dwellings

in places unreached by sun

the shadows brood

into our dark house she comes

bearing lighted candles,

Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia

All are Welcome!! December 13, 2011. 7:30 -8:00 A.M. 

Celebrating a Decade: Lean on Me: McDonald's new slogan

First published on April 7, 2011 this is the second most popular blog (all according to blogger analytics) in the last ten years.  I still remember where and when I took it.  I had been collecting pictures of McDonald's from around the world, and this one was a definite winner.  All my issues with this fast-food joint aside....

Lean on Me

The above picture was taken in Singapore, July 2010.  I could not resist taking it.  Out of fear, I did not get too close.  Seconds after I took the picture, the man woke up. But up until then, it truly seemed like McDonald's could proudly sing...'Lean on Me' and use this picture as their logo!!

I take pictures of McDonald's around the world. Many of them look the same. However, some others have a bit of 'glocal' in them.  The way Ronald McDonald joins his hands in an Asian greeting at one such joint in Bangkok, or how greetings are always written in the local languages, or how in countries like India, McDonald's does not serve many meat based and no beef or pork based dishes.  Does it make it any more 'cultural though?"  Fast food and street food are not the same. Street food in the countries where you can buy it, is always reflective of a culture, a civilization.  McDonalds reeks of 'adaptation and evolution with a motive'.  Not natural....not desirable---like genetically modified food.  You may disagree!! 

McDondald's is always a jumping joint....in most countries.  Sweden remains an exception.  This picture was taken in Singapore, 2010.  Open 24 hrs. 

Celebrating a Decade: Bangles, Bangle Sellers and the South Asian Spirit

First published on October 5, 2013, here I share with you all the most popular post on this blog in the last decade. Since 2013 I have put much more effort into my academic work and articles, so   long articles have been greatly reduced.  

Why is this blog popular? I think only because of the images and may be that it talks about bangles which is something women around the world might be interested in.  Whatever it is, may be we can re-familiarize ourselves with some information on origins of glass bangles. 

New Rajendar Nagar, New Delhi, 2013.

The man was old and a bit forgetful.  Strangely enough I caught him, as he was saying, 'let me think, where did I keep those?'  This was a very small stall at the local market, in the neighborhood.  The man had placed a square piece of cloth, covered it with newspapers for some more padding and just created a make shift stall between two parked cars.  Thank God for no rules in these places, that poor, old people can set up a shop anywhere.  As Chaotic as it makes India seem, it also allows life to flow where it will.  And in a country as big and diverse as India, 'control and regulation' just do not work!! Chaos makes sense there, as it would no other place.

And color and creativity, balance it all!! Thankyou India!!

Churiyaan, Hanuman Mandir, 2010

Pictures taken at Hanuman Mandir, New Delhi, Jan 2010.  Shops that sell only bangles. 

Chudiyaan or Bangles, especially glass bangles are completely an Indian creation. Bracelets, of various kinds may have been invented else place, but thin fine bangles made of all kinds of material, was a product of Indian genius. And glass bangles are synonymous with India. Glass bangles, are found only in south asia--Namely India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, which was one country till 1947. There are special glass factories that make these glass bangles.

Like Bindi, the dot the Indian women sport and the world identifies an indian woman by, just the phrase "Kanch ki churiyaan’ --Bangles made of Glass, evokes so much in India. Glass bangles find their way into songs, poetry, movie titles and movie plots.

Today we have all sort of bangles, made of material that is more durable. For example, various kinds of metal, plastic, silk threads wound around metal, or plastic or rubber, bangles made completely of plastic, or rubber. All of which are modern version of the ‘churiryaan’. The three tradition ones are made of metal, glass and lac. My favorite the ones made of lac, a special kind of clay and found in east-central Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Lac is the scarlet resinous secretion of a number of species of insects, of which the most commonly cultivated species is Kerria lacca (Check wiki for more detailed info. The following two paragraphs were taken from wiki. I learnt just as much as you would, if you read through it). Thousands of these tiny insects colonize branches of suitable host trees and secrete the resinous pigment. The coated branches of the host trees are cut and harvested as sticklac. The harvested sticklac is crushed and sieved to remove impurities. The sieved material is then repeatedly washed to remove insect parts and other soluble material. The resulting product is known as seedlac. The prefix seed refers to its pellet shape. Seedlac which still contains 3-5% impurities is processed into shellac by heat treatment or solvent extraction. The leading producer of Lac is Jharkhand, followed by the Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra states of India. Lac production is also found in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, parts of China, and Mexico.

The use of lac dye goes back to ancient times. It has been used in India as a skin cosmetic and dye for wool and silk. In China it is a traditional dye for leather goods. The use of lac for dye has been supplanted by synthetic dyes. It is used in medicine as a hepatoprotective and anti-obesity drug. It is used in violin and other varnish and is soluble in alcohol. This type of lac was used in the finishing of 18th-century fowling guns in the United States.

There are two basic types of bangles: a solid cylinder type; and a split, cylindrical spring opening/closing type. Primary distinguishing factor for these is the material that is used to make the bangles. This may vary anything from glass to jade to metal to lac and even rubber or plastic. One factor that adds to the price of the bangles is the artifacts or the work done further on the metal. This includes embroidery or small glass pieces or paintings or even small hangings that are attached to the bangles. The rareness of a color and its unique value also increase the value. Bangles made from lac are one of the oldest ones and among the brittle category too. Lac is clay like material which is molded in hot kilns-like places to make these bangles. Among the recent entrants are the rubber bangles that are worn more like a wrist band by youngsters while the plastic ones are there to add the trendy look. Normally, a bangle worn by people around the world is simply an inflexible piece of jewelry worn around the wrist. However, in many cultures, especially in the South Asia and in Arabian Peninsula, bangles have evolved into various types in which different ones are used at different occasions.

In India, bangle sellers have many romantic and social connotations associated with them. In a culture where men and women did not touch each other until they were courting or preferably married (exceptions to all rules have always existed), bangle sellers not only got to touch a girl’s hands but also hold it for a while.

For me the most fascinating part was how they held your hand and knew exactly how to squeeze it to slip the bangles to your wrist.  Often times, many girls have large hands but small wrists. In that case, the bangles need to be large enough to pass over the hand but are often loose around the wrists.  Somehow bangle sellers knew how to take the smaller sized bangles and pass them over your hand, without breaking them --(in reference to the glass ones).  Whenever I tried it, I was bound to break a few.  Then we had special techniques for slipping these gorgeous but fragile glass bangles onto our wrists.  Using soap, soap and oil, or merely oil on your wrists facilitated slipping these bangles on your wrists.

But the best part about the bangles was the clinking sound that they made when you worked.  Many a poem and songs were written about the ‘khan-khan’ (tinkling) of these bangles.  Here are a few links to songs in the movies that talk about chudiyaan or kanch ki churiyaan--, 

Bindiya Chamkegi, Churdi Khankegi (the bindi (forehead dot) will shine, and the bangles will tinkle),:  The young woman is trying to distract her beau from his work/studies.  This is one of the most favorite song from the 1970s that make reference to the 'churiyaan'.

Bole Churiyaan, Bole Kangana :  Here the song gives bangles a whole new identity--Love messengers!!  Churiyaan are declaring the wearer's love to her object affection.  Only Bollywood!! 

Churi Bajee Hai Kahin Door Door (The bangles are jingling, somewhere far away): When the man misses his love interest, he walks into the room where she has left her jewelry...and ofcourse in a true bollywood style transports himself into a fantasy song, probably somewhere in Switzerland.  

Chudiyan Khanki Khankane Wale Aa Gaye: The bangles jingled and those make them 

happy (jingle) are here.

Mere Haathon mein naun Naun Churiyaan Hain: This is a young single woman's plea to her love interest to curb his advances, as they are not yet married.  

Choodiyaan Khanak Gayi:  A song with Rajasthani (western Indian state) flavor.  The woman talks her bangles jingling in the middle of the night, telling her love tales. 

And here you can see an entire market in Pakistan that sells just that....'churiyaan'.  If I am not mistaken its filmed by a Japanese tourist who lived in Paksitan at some point, and speaks the language, so is sharing his thoughts with the bangle sellers.  


Every Indian girl (and I bet Pakistani and Bangladeshi) has a stock of bangles.  Various kinds, made of different materials.  By the way, to store them properly, you need metal clothes hangers.  Boxes are not really the best place to store bangles.  They will take too much space and bangles in boxes are hard to sort. Glass bangles, are especially susceptible to cracking and breaking during the sorting process.   So, you take clothes hangers and loosen the clasp, slip the bangle through the metal, close the clasp, and hang the hanger in the closet next to your clothes.  Just be careful not to close the clasp too tight.  It is tightened just enough to to be able to hold the bangles, such that it can be opened again soon.  

I had several hangers filled with bangles.  Especially glass bangles, because in our family daughters, not daughter in laws, were not supposed to buy their own glass bangles.  Since my mom's side of the family knew about the tradition/rule, and knew of our love for the bangles, everyone who visited us brought us bangles.  

I have not worn glass bangles in a long time.  But this time I was home I bought several sets for daughters of colleagues. 

LIke Bindi, Churiyaan are a part of solah shringaar, the 16 different forms of adornments that constitute the complete 'adornment' for a hindu or a muslim bride in India.  Solah Shringar, which includes, the kajal in eyes, henna on the hands and feet, toe rings, and many others, needs a separate post.  It is important to mention that along with bindi, churiyaan are the first thing that woman who looses her husband stops wearing.  In case of glass bangles, they are broken by striking against stones to indicate the death, and beginning of an austere life.  Although not followed anymore, thankfully, that breaking of bangles was used in Bollywood as a universal symbol of loosing love --namely your husband. And in the same line 'chura' the special set of bangles that hindu, sikh and in some cases muslim bride wears has a special ceremony associated with it.  Chura for hindu brides is bought by the Maama (maternal uncle) then taken to the priest for a special prayer and is followed by a proper chura ceremony, where married women give their blessing to the new bride.  Here, you can see the ceremony at a punjabi wedding,with the background to my all time favorite wedding songs.  'Madhaniyaan--the great churner--how cruel are you, that daughters who light our houses eventually have to leave us, and take their laughter to the houses of their husbands and in-laws!!'

Chura is supposed to be so beautiful that the bride herself is not allowed to see it. She is blindfolded during the process, and before her blindfold is taken off, the chura is covered with a hankerchief.  All this to protect her from the 'nazar', the evil eye that is easily attracted towards the young, the beautiful and the lucky ones to be wearing a chura. 

Here, I end the post Sarojini Naidu poem.  Ms. Naidu was not only a poet, but also a freedom fighter.  I remember reading this poem in fourth grade.  While I did not remember the words, I remember how my teacher had explained the place of bangle sellers in Indian culture.  The above picture was taken with that in mind...the color, the glass, the bangle seller, and the good old nostalgia that spells in bold letter the very Indian spirit!!  or better the South Asian Spirit!!

The Bangle Sellers, 

By Sarojini Naidu

Bangle sellers are we who bear
Our shining loads to the temple fair...
Who will buy these delicate, bright
Rainbow-tinted circles of light?
Lustrous tokens of radiant lives,
For happy daughters and happy wives.

Some are meet for a maiden's wrist,
Silver and blue as the mountain mist,
Some are flushed like the buds that dream
On the tranquil brow of a woodland stream,
Some are aglow wth the bloom that cleaves
To the limpid glory of new born leaves

Some are like fields of sunlit corn,
Meet for a bride on her bridal morn,
Some, like the flame of her marriage fire,
Or, rich with the hue of her heart's desire,
Tinkling, luminous, tender, and clear,
Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear.

Some are purple and gold flecked grey
For she who has journeyed through life midway,
Whose hands have cherished, whose love has blest,
And cradled fair sons on her faithful breast,
And serves her household in fruitful pride,
And worships the gods at her husband's side.