Enlightenment of Our Souls

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“Om Sarva Mangal Manglaye Shivay Sarvaarth Sadhike
Sharanye Trayambake Gauri Narayaani Namostu Te”
“Oh the divine couple Shiva Parvati !
O ! Thee, the protectors of this universe,
Along with Lords Brahma and Vishnu
We pray to You for our well-being, prosperity and the enlightenment of our souls.”
(Lord Shiva Prarthana Prayer)

 

The power or energy of Shiva is Shakti, his spouse, of which Parvati is probably the most popular form.
Lord Shiva And Mata Parvati Ji are often shown sitting in happy, intimate embrace.
After their marriage, they left for mount Kailash and immersed themselves completely in a sexual intercourse so strong that the deity of desire Kama was reborn when their sweat mingles with his ashes.
Their love was so intense that it shook the cosmos and frightened even the gods…

 

This is a recent sculpture which stands in the “Kingdom of Dreams” complex in Gurgaon, it is inspired by a piece from the 11th-12th c.)

 

 

Swirl and Swing

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“I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.”
(James A. Michener – U.S. novelist and short-story writer, 1907-1997)

Anand is posing with a throw and a cushion in linen with aari embroidery fom the Red Halo collection.
This was shot with natural light at the upper terrace of our office.
RED HALO is a collection of household linen based in Benaras (Varanasi – India) providing work to people who were living with difficulties and education to children.
(Cushion and throw style “Swirls” – 100% silk – Collection RED HALO)

“Like” the RED HALO page on Facebook and join this amazing human adventure in Varanasi,www.facebook.com/redhalo.in

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Joyful Laundry

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“We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.”
(E. B. White – American writer, 1899-1985)

Those ladies came a long way to Varanasi (Benaras) in order to worship the holy waters of the Ganges.
They were doing their laundry in joy and happiness.
As they didn’t want to wet the garments that they were wearing they decided to fold a part of their sari.
Something was echoing the work of French fashion designer Christain Lacroix…

“Il Desiderio Mio Di Te”

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“Il Desiderio Mio Di Te (My Desire For You)”

FRANCESCA:
Paolo! Paolo!

PAOLO:
O mia vita, non fu mai tanto folle
Il desiderio mio di te. Sentivo
Già venir meno
Dentro al core gli spiriti
Che vivono degli occhi tuoi. La forza
Mi si perdeva nella notte, uscitami
Dal petto, come un fiume
Terribile di sangue fiagorosa;
E paura n’avea l’anima mia.

[Più e più volte lei reclinata bacia sui capelli appassionatamente.]
(From “Francesca da Rimini” – Libretto by Tito Ricordi after the tragedy of the same name by Gabriele d’Annunzio)

This is a close-up of Svetla Vassileva & Roberto Alagna during the rehearsal of “Francesca da Rimini”.
First performance will start January the 31st.
Conductor: Daniel Oren
Stage director: Giancarlo Del Monaco
Costumes: Maria Filippi
Sets: Carlo Centolavigna
Lighting: Hans Rudolf Kunz

 

The Fatal Passion

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“Only he felt he could no more dissemble,
And kissed her, mouth to mouth, all in a tremble.
Sad were those hearts, and sweet was that long kiss:
Sacred be love from sight, whate ‘er it is.
Thne world was all fotrgot, the struggle o’er,
Desesperare te Joy.
-That day they read no more.”
(from “The Story of Rimini”, A poem by Leigh Hunt)

Svetla Vassileva & Roberto Alagna during the rehearsal of “Francesca da Rimini”.
First performance will start January the 31st.
Conductor: Daniel Oren
Stage director: Giancarlo Del Monaco
Costumes: Maria Filippi
Sets: Carlo Centolavigna
Lighting: Hans Rudolf Kunz

Every Second

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“Every second is of infinite value”
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – German Playwright, Poet, Novelist and Dramatist. 1749-1832)

Every second became so important in the process of each item of our collections.
Every second can change everything.
Every second is holding the hope of women and men involved there…

This woolen scarf is made with an aari embroidery, it involves weavers and embroiderers who were struggling with their workshops.
RED HALO is a collection of household linen based in Benaras (Varanasi – India) providing work to people who were living with difficulties and education to children.
(Copying those products is against this social work)

(Scarf style “Anand” – 100% wool – Col. Ice – Collection RED HALO)

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{New RED HALO shop at HOTEL SURYA ( S-20/51A-5,THE MALL ROAD,CANTONMENT) in VARANASI with the latest collections}
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Down in the Depths

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“…And here am I
Facing tomorrow
Alone with my sorrow
Down in the depths on the ninetieth floor…”
(From “Down In The Depths” by Cole Porter – Red, Hot And Blue” (1936)

Since several seasons I take most of the pictures of our collections on the upper terrace which is on the top of our office in Varanasi (Benaras) in front of this amazing wall which keeps traces of each monsoon and which is magnified by a natural light.
Those fashion photographies are not as simple as they pretend to be, each is dwelling with a real social work.
Among the many people involved there, Anand who is modeling for our catalogue since the begining of the company is escaping for a while his tough condition of boatman on the Ganges and, using his dark colour skin complexion breaks a social taboo in India.
The fabric of this tablecloth is in pure linen, it involves handloom weavers of Varanasi struggling with their workshops and the embroidery inspired by the Mughal style is done in our workshop.

RED HALO is a collection of household linen based in Benaras (Varanasi – India) providing work to people who were living with difficulties and education to children.
(Copying those products is against this social work)
(Tablecloth style “Taj Mahal” – 180 x 180 – 100% Linen – Col. Walnut – Collection RED HALO)

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{Opening of a new RED HALO shop at HOTEL SURYA ( S-20/51A-5,THE MALL ROAD,CANTONMENT) in VARANASI with the latest collections}
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“Like” the RED HALO page on Facebook and join this amazing human adventure in Varanasi,www.facebook.com/redhalo.in

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Wading in Cold Waters

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“It doesn’t matter if the water is cold or warm if you’re going to have to wade through it anyway.”
(Teilhard de Chardin – French Geologist, Priest, Philosopher and Mystic, 1881-1955)

This picture was shot a few hours ago at Ram ghat in Varanasi (Benaras) where the city has to bear the lowest temperature of the year since a few days.
This young man is braving the cold in order to take his ritual bath in the holy waters of the Ganges.
Nights couldn’t be colder and it seems difficult for the city to wake up every morning.
In a few days everyone here will forget this unusual weather when the heat comes again in the city of all excess…

 

Unchain my Heart

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“I’m under your spell
Like a man in a trance
You know darn well that I don’t stand a chance
Unchain my heart let me go my way…”
(“Unchain My Heart”, song written by Bobby Sharp and recorded in 1961 by Ray Charles)

(Collection RED HALO – Accessory item style “Heart” with Zardozi embroidery)
RED HALO is a collection of household linen based in Benaras (Varanasi – India) providing work to people who were living with difficulties and education to children.
(Copying those products is against this social work)

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{This evening for New Year Eve, opening of a new RED HALO shop at HOTEL SURYA ( S-20/51A-5,THE MALL ROAD,CANTONMENT) in VARANASI with the latest collections}
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The Matriarchs

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“Man, born of woman, has found it a hard thing to forgive her for giving him birth.
The patriarchal protest against the ancient matriarch has borne strange fruit through the years.”
(Lillian Smith – American Writer, 1897-1966)

Those ladies reminded me the four Matriarchs of the Bible as they were reaching the platform at Nepali ghat in Varanasi (Benaras).
Each wrapped her saree towards the upper part of the body in order to keep it dry from the holy waters of the Ganges.
It allowed to see those petticoats with bright colours like flamenco dresses giving a Seville fairground’s touch to the riverbank for a few minutes.
Suddenly rose petals fell from the sky.
This is the kind of magic that often comes in front of my camera in the eternal city…