How to Celebrate Festival of Lights – Diwali

If you know India, you know a festival frenzied nation! One of the most revered and celebrated festivals in India is Diwali which is celebrated across the country with much fanfare in a grandeur style every year. Fondly referred to as the ‘Festival of Lights’ – Diwali heralds the dawn of a new beginning symbolized by the return of Hindu Lord Rama to his kingdom after an exile of 14 years. Legend has it Lord Rama’s homecoming was a joyous event for the people who marked this auspicious occasion as Deepawali or Diwali. It marks the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. As is with other festivals in India, Diwali is celebrated in various styles and traditions in different cultures and their beliefs. Irrespective of the rituals, one can experience the exuberant celebrations all around during the festive season. Diwali spreads the universal message of peace, prosperity and positivity for the people of India.

Dozens of lights, diyas, candles and curlies are to be seen everywhere and the whole nation looks like a kaleidoscope of different lights amalgamated in sync with each other. The smell of incense and crackers mixed with the festive flavor and aroma of desi delicacies lingers in and around the kitchens of people celebrating Diwali. The sights and sounds of Diwali are a joyous camaraderie of people from all walks of life being together and celebrating with each other. A time for togetherness, Diwali lights up the corners of everyone’s heart!

Wondering how to celebrate Diwali this year? Here’s what we recommend -

 1: Shop:

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Diwali is not just about the lights, sounds and action, dressing for the festival and feeling the mood is an integral part of Diwali. On this day, people bring the best out of their wardrobes and dress up for the occasion. Buying new clothes for family members is also a part of the celebration as Diwali marks the new year for Hindus. With shops, stores and markets bustling with products, you can shop your heart out and make the most of the festive discounts and offers. Drape yourself and your loved ones with new dresses and give your wardrobe a Diwali makeover.

2: Ornate:

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During Diwali, it is considered auspicious to buy jewellery of any sort as it brings prosperity and wealth for the year. Especially during Dhanteras, women in India love to indulge in shopping for gold/silver coins and jewellery to bring good luck and harmony in the household. If you too wish to bring luck and wealth to your doorstep, ornate your celebrations by buying gold and silver coins and add a dash of auspice to your Diwali.

3: Decorate:

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Add the glimmer to the festive season by decorating your space with colorful diyas, lights, strings and lamps. Illuminate your house with lights, diyas and candles to attain wealth, health and prosperity. Many households in India are also known to decorate their spaces with beautiful rangoli and diya designs. Say goodbye to the old and welcome the new by lighting up your abode with festive décor. Even if you cannot renovate your space, you can always rejuvenate it with Diwali decoration ideas and make your celebrations grander than ever!

4: Distribute Gifts:

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Diwali is a great way to bring people together and cherish the special bond you share with them. Be it at work or home, you can soak in the festivities by exchanging gifts and sweets with.Some also like to bask in the celebrations with fireworks and crackers  to exhibit their joy and happiness. You can also choose to donate old clothes, unused items etc. to the less fortunate and light up their celebrations as well. Whatever be your taste, don’t forget to have fun this Diwali!

5: Pray:

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Offering prayers to Goddess Laxmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity is the most important and auspicious part of Diwali. Every household offers their prayers and seeks the divine blessings of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. You should also start your celebrations by offering sweets, flowers and gold/silver coins to Goddess Lakshmi as a medium to thank and welcome her to your home . Traditional rituals like aarti and laksmi poojan are a must do for the wellness and prosperity of your near and dear ones.

6: Celebrate:

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What better time to take a party leap than Diwali! We all love to meet and greet our friends and families and indulge in get-together, dinners, bursting crackers and playing cards. You too should embrace the festival of lights by reaching out to your friends and family and celebrating the togetherness this Diwali. Make your home a beacon of light and laughter along with music, fireworks, food and celebrations. After all, festivals are best enjoyed in the presence of our loved ones!

Diwali ushers in a new period of merriment – with loved ones around you dressed to impress, with delicious delicacies spreading joy and with fireworks that dazzle the night sky with their shimmering lights. As you celebrate Diwali, do not forget to reflect on  your inner thoughts and dwell on your actions to get rid of the negativity and welcome positivity in your life.

We at FleAffair pray the festival of lights brightens up your home and hearts!

PRIMED UP FOR SOME PRE FESTIVE HOME DECOR?

PRIMED UP FOR SOME PRE FESTIVE HOME DECOR?

 

With the month coming close for the festive season it’s time for some decoration, as one thing which people love to decorate is their homes. Home is a place where you can come and rest your day off, and with some beautiful pieces hanging around the place it makes it more pleasant and full of positive energy.

Home decor is something which makes your house a smothering home, with so many guests coming and with so many compliments. These decorative items make your home more vibrant and pleasing. But the thing is where to buy from? And there are many such online stores from where one can buy these decor. But are they any creative? Original? Certainly not and the place where you can get the most creative pieces is FleAffair.com.

Home decor for FleAffair.com is much more than just art pieces, for them it’s the quality time spent in finding such amazing decorative pieces for each individual to make their house look beautiful and they can cherish it for long.

There are many categories from which one can choose and get them a special place at their homes.

ACCESSORIES

Yeah! You can accessorize your house too, and these accessories include Bookends, Key holders, Tissue Boxes and Wall Hangings.  And all of these are a big part of home décor, when there are so many people around one tend to forget their car keys and key holders are the best option. Then to make your home more attractive one can prep it up with wall hangings as well.

KITCHEN & DINING

Eating your food on a table with nothing at all is just plain lunch or dinner. But with a beautiful dining table gives you a pleasant feeling when sitting with family. It includes Bar & Accessories, Dishware & Serving, Tableware, Utility Boxes and much more.
These Kitchen and dining accessories are of much help for the ladies, and there are so many good and new styled wooden trays which can be used to serve food. Secondly the utility boxes are a must to keep which makes the kitchen look stylish and unique. One can store food, spices in it and it gives an antique look to the kitchen.

FURNISHING

Furnishing is something one should consider to keep their rooms lively and beautiful. It includes Bed covers & Linens, Bed Sheets, Blanket & Quilt Covers, Cushions, Drapes, and Rugs & Carpets. Furnishing is quite a must to make your home look beautiful and astonishing. Having some flowery bed sheets and creative cushions makes your home or room look stunning. FleAffair come with some attractive blankets & Quilts makes you buy one for the cozy days.

GREENHOUSE

Something that beautifies the house is the greenhouse décor, which includes Artificial Bonsai, Artificial flowers, Artificial Plants, Arrangements, Bunches.  And this part is very important, getting your home corners done by some Bonsai and flowers is a great idea, no clutter of sand or a regular watering of plants. Nothing just beautiful pieces of art to make your home look gorgeous.

These are some great Home Décor categories you can scroll down with and buy yourself some amazing things and beautify your home. And yes it is always a pleasant feeling when one compliments how beautiful the house is.

So grab on the brooms to clean the corners of your places and make space for these attractive pieces to make your home look like sunshine.

Kolkata Flea Market

Kolkata with its rustic by lanes and bustling bazaars makes for every shopaholics dream destination.  Although there exist no dearth of bazaars and markets in the city of joy, when asked about the quintessential place to shop, Gariahat Market is the first name which comes up. Its sprawling maze of flea shops and stalls houses everything one can imagine.

The fervor towards shopping will lead you to the colorful camaraderie of ethnic wear products and accessories found at this market located at the crossroads of Gariahat Road and Rasbehari Avenue in the Ballygunge area of Kolkata.Let’s take a journey into the in numerous shopping avenues and find the best picks from the flea markets of Gariahat.

 

What’s The History?

Originating around the colonial era British Raj, Gariahat market has since been developed as the trade market within Southern Kolkata region. From its advent in the early 20th century, Gariahat and its surrounding markets have been widely recognized for representing Indian arts and crafts through an eclectic mix of products one can imagine. Housing more than 2000 flea vendors and stores, Gariahat market is aptly described as the colorful capital of Kolkata.

What To Shop?

If you are visiting Kolkata and are not sure where to shop, trust us and head towards Gariahat Market. For the market caters to ethnic Indian products ranging from clothing, jewellery, accessories, electronics, furniture and plants. Spanning across footpaths and bylanes, the market offers a sea full of shops, stores and vendors selling everything one can imagine.

 

 

 

Crowded with shoppers from all age groups enthusiastically looking at the variety, let’s take a deeper look into what Gariahat market has to offer :

1) Sarees : 

The best traditional and trendy sarees to buy in Kolkata. Hands Down. Gariahat market is aptly described as the saree capital of the country being home to a vast varieties of ethnic sarees in rich colors and fabrics. One of the most popular attire adorned by Bengali women, the market offers a bespoke collection of silk sarees such as - Benarasi sarees, Tussar silk sarees, Kanjeevaram sarees, Kantha silk sarees, Vishnupuri silk sarees and more. Suitable for festivities and occasions, silk sarees are readily available at affordable prices provided you can strike a good bargain!

Apart from silk, one of the most popular fabric worn by women in India is cotton and Gariahat market houses a mind boggling range of beautiful cotton sarees in delightful designs and pretty patterns. Being home to a variety of cotton looms and weaves, West Bengal is famous for cotton varities like – Shantipuri Cotton, Dhanikhali Cotton, Phulia Cotton and Begumpur Cotton – each having a signature finesse and feel to it. Gariahat market has shops and vendors brimming with the most elegant cotton saris in warm colors and bold borders. You can also find pure hand loom cotton sarees from a number of handicrafts emporiums and specialized stores in the market.

With changing times and trends, women are also choosing fashionable fabrics like georgette, chiffon, sheer and others. Crafted with heavy stone and zari work, Gariahat market is flourishing with beautiful designer and festive sarees in all their glory.

2. Suits :

If you are done saree hunting in Gariahat market, you can set your eyes on exclusive designer suits and salwar kameez. Similar to the mind boggling variety of sarees, you will be spoilt for choice when shopping for ladies suits with exquisite embroideries and materials. Available in all sizes and prices, you can find high quality suits and salwar kameez  in vibrant colors like blue, purple, magenta and others at value for money prices. Gariahat market is where every pleat of fabric turns out to be perfect!  You can also visit authentic handloom stores for exquisite Indian suits in vivid styles and fine fabrics.

 

3) Accessories :

It is said there is no household in Kolkata that doesn’t have something or the other brought from Gariahat market. From traditional Bengali jewellery houses to chic stores with artifacts and accessories, you can immerse yourself in an entire world of accessories. One can easily find - silk purses, jute bags, leather goods, neck pieces, earrings, bracelets, amulets, anklets and other types of jewellery for every budget. Contemporary yet modern, you can also shop for precious and semi-precious stones and gems. Besides modern accessories and jewellery items, Gariahat market is brimming with ethnic Bengali neck-pieces  such as – Chatai Haar, Phul Haar, Paati Haar, Ghunshi Haar and other intricately crafted women bangles and jewellery. A treasure trove indeed!

 

4) Everything Else :

It would be unfair to term the Gariahat market as a place only for the shopper. Apart from beautiful clothes and accessories, it has shops and vendors selling electronic items, hair and beauty products and cosmetics, wooden antique furniture items and plants. The local shops also sell crockery, cutlery and home decor products to give a custom touch to your adobe. Not to miss is the delicious food items including Bengali specialties and other cuisines as well. From the local flavors ‘Telabhaja’ and ‘Puchkas’ to classic street grubs like cutlets, samosas and rolls, the market offers huge a rich variety of restaurants and eateries to gorge on. After all, one really does need a tummy full for shop hogging in Gariahat Market!

A potpourri of ethnic Indian products, garments, furniture, accessories and jewellery, Gariahat market caters to the eclectic taste of local and tourist populace looking to shop their heart out for authentic, artsy and unique products at reasonable prices. Once there, you will be amazed by the sheer vastness of products brilliantly displaying our culture, craft and tradition in awe inspiring fashion! A must visit for its high octane energy and kaleidoscopic variety of products, Gariahat Market paints a perfect picture of Indian talent and craftsmanship with its flea market and shops.

Do you feel like flea shopping but can’t make it to Kolkata? Fret Not!

FleAffair brings the latest designs and assorted accessories at your doorstep. Shop traditional yet trendy apparel, jewellery and accessories to suit your style at affordable prices.

Get an authentic flea market experience online with FleAffair.

Rest Assured, we’re the next best thing to being in Kolkata! Happy Shopping!

Pick Jewelry which matches your wedding outfit

Pick Jewelry which matches your wedding outfit

Let’s start with the wedding lehenga, done. Hairstyle? Done. What’s left then? The most important thing is the jewelry which makes the bride look perfect.  And many a time’s brides with so much on their head wear the wrong jewelry. And this particular thing can break it or make it your day. Here are few things you should keep it in your mind before choosing your wedding jewelry.

 JUST DON’T COPY

Many brides make this mistake of copying a jewelry style which some other bride wore or from a magazine. And some brides ask others to bring their wedding jewelry which is in match with the color of their lehenga.
So always keep this in mind that according to your face and body structure carry the jewelry accordingly and don’t copy from somewhere or rely on someone else. And your bridal jewelry should always compliment your bridal lehenga.

 GO WITH THE WEDDING OUTFIT AS WELL

Don’t buy your wedding jewelry before your lehenga as they both should complement each other. The style of choli should be kept in mind when buying jewelry for you. And if in case you are wearing a saree you should wear things accordingly. Accessorize yourself in such a manner that it doesn’t look off beat. So try a saree and the buy you jewelry.
For example if your choli is filled with too much work so keep the jewelry simple and elegant.

 GO WITH MIX AND MATCH

 

Many a times it’s actually not important to wear same matching jewelry with your lehenga. If there is a jewelry which is of metal and goes well with your golden lehenga go for it like 200%.  Go for a light maang tikka with a heavy neckpiece it will go well on your face if the wedding lehenga is not so heavy.

NO REPETITION OF THE JEWELRY ON DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS

Never! People just look at you and by any chance you go for the same jewelry for two of your main functions you’ll for life going to regret it. Buy different outfits and buy jewelry for them accordingly, no need to have the same one even if it looks good with both.
And not just this make sure that your jewelry matches your entire attire including your footwear and bag if you are carrying any.

QUALITY IS MUST

Don’t go for a lame shopping when going for bridal jewelry. With the change in trends and new designs it is very much essential that one should buy trendy pieces. Buy that kind of jewelry which is not much expensive and can be worn off with other outfits after your marriage.
Always prefer a reputed store so if in case there is some issues at the last moment you can always go back and change.
Have a good market survey before buying the best jewelry for yourself; this is of much importance as you should be satisfied at the end.

So seems like most of your work is signed for your D-day, from choosing the right lehenga and going with the new dupatta style and now the best jewelry. All is soughed and you will look amazing.

DRAPING NOW AIN’T A PROBLEM

DRAPING NOW AIN’T A PROBLEM

Women can’t go with one fashion, so even on weddings one need to have different styles which can suit their personality. So why not drape your drop dupattas in a different way. So all you brides to be there are so many ways by which one can drape their lehenga’s and moreover the dupattas.
Here are some of the easy tricks by which one can drape their dupattas on the D-day and look amazing.

FRONT FLOW DUPATTA

This one is classy and elegant, and it is always done very neatly. And to drape this style one need to pleat the dupattas much neatly and pin it on your left shoulder. And once the dupattas falls behind you, from the front let your dupattas reach to the floor. Fold this side up and bring to your forearm. Tada done.

DOUBLE SIDED DRAPE STYLE

It’s among the most interesting dupatta styles which one can pull off. It is a combination of both seedha and ulta pallu. What you have to do is tuck the dupattas in the lehenga left from the centre. Wrap it around your hips and bring it forward. Take the dupatta over the left shoulder and wear it like a saree.
Nop! It’s not over now you have to bring one free end of the dupatta from under the left arm and tuck it at the left end. This drape style from one side gives a look of seedha pallu and from the other side gives a look of ulta pallu.

BACK U STYLE DUPATTA

This style is best when you are carrying a heavy dupattas. It is very simple to carry this dupatta as well. Pleat one end of the dupatta and arrange it neatly and pin it on the left side of the shoulder. Make sure that the dupatta falls in front and a little lower than the waist. For the other end of the dupatta bring it to the front on the right side.
It’s quite simple and now you can wrap the dupatta on the wrist or even tuck it in your lehenga. This will form a U turn at the back.

BONG STYLE DUPATTA

This is the inspiration from the Bengali saree, and looks great on Indian brides. So brides who want to try something different on their wedding. So for that pleat the dupattas and pin it up on your right shoulder. Then take one of the corners of dupattas from front side and wrap it around your waist and tuck it in your lehenga.
After this take one corner of the back side dupattas and bring it over the left shoulder. Pleat it accordingly with neatness and wola you are done.

These are some of the tricks which will surely help you look amazing on your D-day and you can be the sunshine. Just remember that heavy embroidered dupattas can be worn in many ways but don’t overdo. If the dupattas is meant to be left simple let it be, you will still look great and beautiful.