WEEKEND OUTING NOT FAR AWAY FROM CHENNAI

Have the amusement parks and theaters bored you? Wish there were a different place you could visit. If the malls and hotels are too expensive for you, lose heart not. Here is a quiet nook around the Chennai’s map. Located on the east coast road (ECR) near MGM, a sign board reading DhakshinaChitra guides you in to a steep path with greenery at one end and traditional crafts at the other.

DhakshinaChithra (started by Madras Craft Foundation MCF) was opened on December 1996. The place looks different from the other recreation centers and amusement parks. The place is known for playing host to many foreigners who want to learn about the culture of the diverse people of India. If you are a person who loves culture and heritage, peace and calmness, the place will interest you too.

There are two storied house built of laterite and timber representing the 18th century middle class homes in Kerala. The Merchant’s house, the Potter’s house, Mud houses, Basket weaver’s house, Agriculturist house, Village Ayyanar shrine, Agraharam Brahmin house, Coastal Andhra house, Cattle shed and Granary are the highlights of the place.

Traditional activities like Pottery, Grinding rice, Palm leaf decoration, Kolam, Pounding paddy, Puppet making, Pot making, Pambaram, Golikundu, Terracotta dolls, Block painting, Basket making, Pallanguzhi, Thayam, Kalamkari, Paper mask, Peepul leaf painting entertains the visitors. Puppet shows and workshops are also held here.

So, if you are looking to laze at a place or develop your skills and learn the crafts of India or enjoy peacefully with your family, this is the place to be. DhakshinaChitra is a place that makes you forget your busy urban life.

Comments

June 15: The Day I Buried My Mother and Met My Daughter

Eleven years ago, on this very day, our family grieved all over again. My mother passed away on May 8, 2015. While the initial rituals were completed within a few days, one final responsibility remained. Since she had been cremated, we decided to take her ashes to our ancestral graveyard, where my great-grandparents and grandparents were buried. On June 15, 2015, we laid her ashes to rest. Along with them went her favorite sarees, her notebook, the pen she always carried, and several belongings that had been a part of her daily life. As we buried those ashes, it felt as though we were saying goodbye to her all over again. Her ashes were the last tangible reminder we had of her, and letting go was not easy. Six years later, in 2021, I was pregnant with my daughter. My due date was June 7, 2021, but God had a different plan. Days passed, and there were no signs of labor. We waited and waited. By June 13, I had crossed 40 weeks, and labor was induced without much success. On the night of ...

Journaling: A Habit That Became a Lifeline

Journaling has been an inseparable part of my life for over 20 years—almost as natural as brushing my teeth or taking a bath. It’s more than just a habit; it has become an obsession. Every day, I capture my thoughts, emotions, and moments, pouring them into the pages of my diary like an old friend who never judges. Growing up, I was an average student, often overlooked in school and college. My parents weren’t the most supportive, and humiliation became a constant companion, especially in front of family, friends, and neighbours. But amidst all of this, my diary remained my refuge, my safe space, and my most loyal friend. During my school and college days, my diary listened when no one else would. It never ridiculed or belittled me. It saw my laughter, my tears, my struggles—it even stopped me from making drastic decisions at times. If not for my diary, I don't know how I would have survived those years. Reliving the Past Through Old Journals Back then, my diary held stories of joy...

Tomorrow, My Morning Coffee Will Taste Different

It’s been three weeks since we moved to Vadodara. Every morning since, I’ve unknowingly built a quiet ritual—coffee in hand, eyes on the sky, watching planes take off from Vadodara Airport, which I can see clearly from our balcony. There's something calming about it. Hopeful, even. A small moment of stillness as the world begins to move. But today… today was not like the other days. Around noon, news broke about the Air India crash at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport, Ahmedabad. And everything I felt in those quiet, breezy mornings shattered into something heavier, more fragile. It’s strange how suddenly a routine can take on new meaning and how quickly something comforting can start to feel ominous. My husband used to be a frequent flyer to Ahmedabad in the months before we settled down here. I was right there at that same airport with my dad and daughter, barely three weeks ago. I still remember my first visit to Ahmedabad and I wasn’t particularly excited. It felt temporary. ...

Maithily's Scribblings

Search This Blog