Deepavali / Diwali - Commercialization, Consumerism, & COMMUNITY
As a Tamil Hindu, I never celebrated Diwali. As an Indian American I now do. It’s heartwarming to see Diwali bringing together people of diverse faiths and cultures, celebrating light, hope, and community.
Interconnectedness, Hate, Love, & Ahimsa (Non Violence)
As a lifelong practicing Hindu who adheres to the principle of Ahimsa, which means “nonviolence” meaning not to harm any living creature with your words, thoughts, or physically.
it boggles my mind that the 3 great Abrahamic faiths of the world Christianity, Judaism, and Islam lived in relative peace and unity, and gave the world beautiful art, architecture, and an interconnected culture before someone drank CUCKOO juice, and decided to fill their minds/hearts/brains/souls with hatred and expelled Jews and Muslims, which led to the bloody Spanish inquisition of 1492!
These are my reflections of the interconnectedness, unity, inspiration, and beauty, I saw through religion, faith, culture, and art.
Art for the Love of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) - Tanjore Painting meets Islamic Patterns
For hundreds of years Tamil poets have composed devotional poems adopting the voice of a mother, addressing praises to an extraordinary child. Called pillaittamil ( "Tamil for a child”), major genre of Tamil literature.” Muslim poets used the genre, to praise the Prophet (PBUH), members of his family, and various walis (“friends of God”) who’s tombs are revered in Tamil Nadu.
My design incorporates Tamil script, Tanjore (Traditional Classical style of South Indian (Tamil) painting), traditional Islamic patterns in the background/cradle, & cradle (the poem states “so I can place you in the cradle, and rock you happily, come joyously. Muhammad, who has the truth, come joyously, come”)
Arabic Ganesha Chaturthi
EVERYBODY LOVES GANESHA! I have many Muslim/non Hindu friends who love Ganesha. Musicians who travel with a small statue, Arabs girls who find him adorable, Yoga practitioners etc. His image is found across the world (Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, archeological evidence even shows ancient South America!) 🌏
His image is on Indonesian currency (a predominately Muslim nation) ☪️
Maha Shivaratri : Lord Shiva & Arabic
God Sees all, even if you can't see him, he sees you!
Ramadan Mubarak! : in 5 Languages
Here is my Ramadan Artwork/Design! Written in 5 Different languages : Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit (language of my faith Hinduism), Tamil (language I speak with my family) & Tamazight (language of the Amazigh people of North Africa)
Ram Navami (Hindu Holiday) : in Arabic Language
Rama in Sanskrit means "one who gives joy to others/divinely blissful / the noble one"
Karim in Arabic means "generous/noble, one of the 99 names of Allah"
Nowruz/Norooz/Nowrooz Mubarak! : Persian New Year
NOWRUZ/Norooz/Nowrooz Mubarak! Inspired by pop art, fashion, and "modern" Persian calligraphers