‘Athithi devo bhava’ … ‘A guest is akin to God’. I believe that’s the spirit of India. Living abroad, when I look back at India, that’s how India feels… Like ‘open arms’.

My work is inspired from my home state, Kerala, where hospitality is simple and in close connection with nature :) Guests are welcomed with light, sweets, fragrant flowers and a serving of ‘paan’, Each piece denotes ‘prosperity’ and ‘comfort’.

1. Nilavilakku : it’s and oil lamp, made of brass, lit with oil or ghee. No auspicious occasion is complete without a lit ‘nilavilakku’.

Nirapara : ‘Para’ is the traditional paddy measuring unit. When filled with rice with husk on (nellu) and topped with a bunch of coconut flowers, it signifies ‘abundance’ :)

3. Paan : Betel leaves, areca nut and lime paste , for the guest to chew on…. It’s the more wholesome way of slight intoxication​ :)

4. Pazham, Chandhanam, kunkumam : Plaintains as sweet, the sandalwood and the kunkumam to wear on the forehead, so the guest feels like royalty :)

5. Mullappoo, manjaadikuru : Fragrant Jasmine flower buds as a sign of reverence and welcome. The manjaadikuru seeds are supposed to be magical and brings good luck and makes wishes come true.

6. ‘ezhuthola’ : before paper, palm leaves where stacked into bundles and used to write on. It says ‘athithi devo bhava’ in Sanskrit :)

So i would say, arranged on a straw-mat, you see the Indian spirit of welcoming everyone….. Where ‘every guest is akin to God’.
Athithi devo bhava!