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Tags: modal silk sarees respect origins kashmiri beadwork table runner dye bandhani modal handmade kashmir ari respect origins dress diwan set respect origins handmade handwoven silk banarasi pan cast iron

Toys! Toys! Toys!!! Growing-up in India and spending one’s early years in the Southern states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, was for the child in me the most precious gift my parents could give me. The gift that kept on giving through my adulthood and will, I suspect, keep that awe-struck child within intact for the most part. And how’s that?? ? Well, there were sprawling avenues of Wise Banyans, Silent clusters of Sandal Wood tress, appetizing Mango Groves, Guava and Custard Apple fruit plucked straight-off the trees, Banana trees with endless sumptuous bundles of perfect bananas, large and small, raw tangy-green and ripe mushy-yellow with exotic burgundy flowers, tall trees with deep purple succulent Jamun, Jackfruit tempting at a just-within-our-reach position, Papayas in pendulous abundance, Grapes in Green and Red colors and Raisins dried-on-the-vine. Food was clearly always right-up-there-ahead on my innocent, perpetually famished agenda! There were tales of snakes and festivals devoted to the faithful offering milk in bowls to the Cobra, no less, with great affection and reverence. How amazing is that! The cow and bull, were dressed-up in great finery and walked about with, colorful horns and jingling bells included. Exotic, earthy, India.