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An
Orissa artist has crafted lacquer dolls - a bride and groom - for
newly-weds Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai and sent the gift,
considered auspicious for married people, to the Bollywood stars.
Kesudas,
a middle-aged painter and lacquer craftsman, has been working on
reviving the ancient lacquer art through his organisation, Baleswari
Kala Kendra (BKK), in northern Orissa.
"I have sent the Kandheis
idols through courier and hope it will reach them by Monday, the day of
their fourth night," said Kesudas, a resident of Balasore town, 200 km
from here.
"Lac toys (both bride and groom) are considered
auspicious for married couples. According to folklore, the toys help to
sustain good relationship in married couples. Hence, many families here
keep such toys in the hope that their relationship won't break."
He said the advent of Feng Shui artefacts in the market had dented the lacquer toy business.
Kesudas said he had sent a letter to Abhishek and Aishwarya telling them of the benefits of keeping the dolls in their home.
"I
came to know through media reports that Ash had several complications
in her horoscope and the Bachchans had offered prayers at different
temples to overcome this. That is why I decided to gift them the
Kandheis, which will help them overcome all odds," Kesudas added.
Kesudas
is not alone. Well known sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik created a sand
image of Abhishek and Aishwarya at his home town Puri.
Similarly,
Orissa weaver Chaturbhuj Meherand Padma Shri recipient sent three
exquisite Patasari saris for the bride designed and woven by him on
getting an order from the Bachchan family.
The saris are woven
using the traditional tie-and-dye art form, which create stunning
patterns on cotton, tussar and silk. In February, Meher, of Subarnapur,
had impressed the Bachchans with photos of ikkat, Mayurkunj and
Radhakunj saris that he had sent them.
Indo-Asian News Service
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