Utsavastu infuses Sacred Spaces through Ancient Rituals, Food and Art, passed on to me from my Grandmother & Mother.
Honoring Ancient Traditions with Sacred patterns or symbols
Utsav is a combination of two words Utsav and Vastu. Utsav meaning "festival"
characterizes the color, gaiety, as well as rituals that accompany along with a festival. Vastu meaning to "dwell", is a science that aims to establish a harmonious and sacred spaces using the energies of the universe. Utsavastu invites you to experience the healing power of Vastu designs. You connect with nature, look inwards and let go of negative energy. Utsavastu infuses sacredness, using ancient ritual patterns and symbols on your yoga mat, entrance of your home and inside your meditation room and yoga studios. This traditional ritual of creating sacred patterns is also known as painted prayers and has been passed down from mother to daughter for over two thousand years.
Each morning, before dawn, in Chennai, Southern India, where I grew up, women will rise before dawn every day and use this time as time for themselves ~ for meditation and reflection. It was their quiet time with the universe; free from their hectic schedule that they face during the day, Using ground rice powder, my grandmother and the women of the house would paint intricate ephemeral (using one continuous line) sacred patterns called Kolam in three areas. First on our doorstep or the entrance of the home, second in front of the Tulasi plant that represent Mother Earth and thirdly in side the puja room or prayer room.
The kolam patterns on your Sacred Space like your Yoga mats or on the walls range between geometric and mathematical line drawings around a matrix of dots to free form artwork and closed shapes. These patterns and symbols, symbolically prevent negative energy from entering the inside of the shapes, and thus are they prevented from entering your Sacred Spaces like your yoga, home or business. Kolam ritual patterns express thankfulness towards Mother Earth, her growth, abundance, regeneration and the idea of being related to the natural world.
I have hand painted for the last several years on on yoga mats the ritual Kolam patterns that infuses the same energy that was drawn by women two thousand years ago. This essence of these painted prayers brings Mindfulness, Exuberance and Celebration of Sacredness through ancient symbols, patterns, color and natural materials into your life.
