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Deepaloka: A Tryst With Heritage

Pune, the Queen of the Deccan, was once the seat of the Peshwas. They ruled from here, in the name of the Martha Empire, eventually becoming the de facto hereditary administrators of the Maratha Confederacy. Over the years of their rule, the Peshwas were largely responsible for Pune’s structural development, including the stately homes they built. One such Peshwa home is the Vishrambaug Wada that has inspired us at Atah to design our coveted Deepaloka, at Atah. 

Take a walk through the bylanes of old Pune, and you’ll notice the precinct is characterised by imposing architecture that’s hard to miss. Mostly dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, much of the architecture in the ‘peths’ of Pune can be credited to the Peshwas, who made Pune their seat of governance, and were largely responsible for the city’s structural development of the time. They popularised the ‘wada’ architectural style that to date continues to be synonymous with life in old Pune. Notable among the wadas that the Peshwas built were Shaniwar Wada, Nana Wada and Vishrambaug Wada. 

In Marathi, the word wada refers to ‘house’. How Vishrambaug Wada came to be named so is not entirely clear, but it’s believed that it was possibly named after a person called Vishram, who was responsible for the upkeep of the place, especially its garden. The other literal and plausible explanation of the name could be a ‘place of relaxation’ since ‘vishram’ in Marathi means, to relax. And to that end, Bajirao II was known to have preferred the peace and quiet of Vishrambaug Wada and its surroundings to the busier Shaniwar Wada. It’s believed he lived here with his wife and a battery of servants for almost 11 years, until he was defeated in battle in the Third Anglo-Maratha War and was exiled to Bithoor in Uttar Pradesh. 

Vishrambaug Wada, is a testament to the Peshwas’ glorious regime in their heyday. The palatial 3-storey mansion was constructed in AD 1807, at a princely price of Rs 2 lakhs by principal architects, Daji Suthar and Mansaram Laxman. It’s spread across an area of 20,000 sq. ft and houses 3 courtyards. But what truly sets it apart from other buildings of its time is the exquisite wood carving and teakwood columns. A glorious east-facing hanging canopy carved entirely in wood stands tall even today, witness to life going by over centuries. Gargoyle-like creatures, again intricately carved in wood, adorn the building’s facade. One look at the teakwood columns or pillars upon which the structure stands, it’s easy to guess that these are a result of painstaking and excellent artistry. At Atah, it’s these imposing pillars that have inspired us to design the Deepaloka, with its wooden stem being reminiscent of the pillars. 

Over the years following Bajirao’s exile, the wada was home to the Hindoo College, a place of study for Sanskrit. The Hindoo College was the precursor to Poona College, which eventually became the Deccan College that we are familiar with today. It also housed the Vishrambaug High School for a long time. Unfortunately, a large chunk of Vishrambaug Wada’s majesty was cut short in 1871 when a huge fire broke out and destroyed almost all of its eastern wing. In 1930, the erstwhile Poona municipality bought Vishrambaug Wada from the Bombay Presidency, making it a place of governance well until 2003. Over the years, the mansion has undergone several restoration programmes, and is today a heritage monument that also houses a small museum. 

Conclusion

India is a land of beautiful monuments and heritage sites, each characterised by breathtaking architecture and history that date back centuries. In fact, it’s home to a total of 3691 monuments and sites, of which 40 have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s this rich shared heritage that inspires us every waking moment at Atah to design products that are a modern reflection of an age-old and cherished Indian aesthetic. 

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Ace your Corporate Gifting Game with these 3 Unique Gift Ideas

The festive season is just around the corner, which means, it’s that time of the year, once again… a time for joy and togetherness, and of course, gifting. Who doesn’t love receiving a gift? We all do; employees, clients and business associates too! Corporate gifts for employees and other business contacts are a great way to kickstart the festivities. 

Read on to learn more about the best corporate gifts there are, for this festive season

It’s common practice these days for businesses to send out personalised gifts to clients, employees and business partners. This particularly holds true during the peak of the festive season in India - Dussehra, Diwali and New Year’s. Finding the perfect corporate gift is however not always easy. But, worry not. Because, we have 3 out-of-the-box gift recommendations for you that will always stand out and have everyone talking about these for a long time to come. 

Deepaloka

Finely crafted in porcelain and wood, The Deepaloka is an ode to the traditional brass oil lamp of yore. It bears a delicate hem of gold that adds to its grace and elegance. But what truly makes it a unique gift is the fact that it comes encased in a self-contained beautiful gift box, complete with a pack of cotton wicks and a bottle of soot-free oil. It’s a timeless piece indeed, ever so chic and festive!

Shop for the Deepaloka

Neyadeep  

Nothing spells style like a corporate diwali gift that is steeped in history and culture. It leaves a lasting impression! Neyadeep is one such gift. A celebratory set of finely-crafted porcelain diyas, Neyadeep is available as three different festive edits - Neyadeep Paakhi with motifs of Indian birds, Neyadeep Tavisa bearing motifs of the marigold and hibiscus flowers, and Neyadeep Assorted, which features tranquil motifs of the hibiscus, marigold, aboli and champaka flowers. And like the Deepaloka, the Neyadeep diyas come  encased in beautiful gift boxes, making them super attractive. 

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Rajaka

Diwali nights are incomplete without a game of cards. So, why not give your business contacts an exquisite pack of playing cards? Adorned with delightful motifs that celebrate Mughal art and architectural styles, Rajaka is a beautiful adaptation of the ancient Dashavatara Ganjifa, to the more contemporary and familiar French-suit. Woven into the ornate designs of the cards, are attributes typically associated with each suit, thus adding to the players’ delight. 

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Conclusion

At Atah, we help you find gifts that make festivities even more special, brighter and joyful. Avail of our customised gifting services. Whatever the size and nature of your order, we’ll assist you every step of the way, from choosing the right gift, customising it with your company logo or personal monogram. What’s more…we’ll even offer you a special price for bulk orders.

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Premium Gifting for Every Season & Reason: 3 Tips to Get it Right

Who doesn’t love a gift every once in a while? We all do! Whether it’s a birthday, a wedding, or an anniversary, a gift that spells ‘you matter’ makes all the difference. But it’s not just personal gifts that uplift. Corporate gifts have the same effect too, even more so when they are personalised. Does that leave you wondering what you can gift your friends, family, colleagues, employees, clients or associates? We have just the right answers for you; aesthetic gifts for every season and reason.

Read On!

Gifting is a tradition that’s as old as the mountains. It’s like a piece of art that leaves an impression and expresses love, gratitude, and appreciation. But finding theperfect giftis not always easy. Here are three tips that could quite possibly help you traverse the gifting maze.

Gift a Piece of Heritage

Imagine an artefact that’s inspired by India’s rich and historical architectural styles and is yet suited for a contemporary lifestyle. We’re talking about Atah’sDeepaloka. Inspired by the majestic wooden pillars of Pune’s Vishrambaug Wada, the Deepaloka is as bespoke as it gets. It’s an ode to brass oil lamps of bygone times. Finely crafted in porcelain and wood, it bears a delicate hem of gold that adds to its grace and elegance. What’s more, it comes encased in a beautiful gift box, complete with a pack of cotton wicks and a bottle of soot-free oil. It’s a timeless piece indeed!

Shop for the Deepaloka

Make it an Artisanal Gift

There’s something incredibly special about artisanal artefacts. For one, their batch size — small most of the time, which means these gifts are unique. Second, they are often reminiscent of a piece of cultural heritage, making them even more desirable. Imagine a corporate diwali gift that is steeped in history and culture, or a wedding souvenir that leaves a lasting impression…your gift will certainly be the talk of town. Atah can help you find that perfect gift! An exquisite set of finely-crafted porcelain diyas, a porcelain oil lamp, or perhaps, a deck of ornate playing cards? There’s a little something for everyone!

Customise Your Gift

Nothing spells style as much as a customised gift! Whether it’s a corporate gift for business associates, employees or clients, or a personal one in commemoration of weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and other intimate occasions, make sure every gift counts and you make every celebration priceless. Branded gifts with a company logo or family monogram are always a great idea. So the next time you’re on the lookout for premium corporate gifts or perhaps, exclusive wedding gift ideas, remember, customisation makes a world of a difference! Take it one step further, add in a personalised note to the recipient…you can thank us later for this tip!

Conclusion

At Atah, we help you find gifts that make festivities even more special, brighter and joyful. Avail of our customised gifting services. Whatever the size and nature of your order, we’ll assist you every step of the way, from choosing the right gift, customising it with your company logo or personal monogram. What’s more…we’ll even offer you a special price for bulk orders.

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In Praise of the Lord

If you’ve been a true-blooded Punekar for a large part of your growing and adult years, chances are that you are familiar with the iconic Ganesha festivities in the city and the Marathi arati or hymn, Sukhakarta Dukhaharta. But, think again; are you really as familiar with the arati as you think you are? Or have you been singing and interpreting the arati incorrectly, all this time? The Ganesha Arati Book; Understanding Sukhakarta Dukhaharta is all set to change that for you.

As cities grew larger and families became nuclear, the singing of hymns especially of the likes of the Marathi one, Sukhakarta Dukhaharta became more of a ritualistic routine. At Atah, we decided to write a book on this popular hymn (arati) to help readers transcend mere ritualistic forms of worship and instead understand its very essence, in context of the many charming tales of the amiable deity. 

The Ganesha Arati Book, is an arati book with a difference. For one, it indeed looks different! Laid out horizontally, almost like a pothi or manuscript of primeval scriptures, this is a very impressive looking and meticulously designed hardback. Second, it’s nothing like a traditional arati book that typically contains a series of verses printed across pages, for devotees to routinely read through. Instead, every page, every motif and illustration has been meticulously crafted with the idea of helping the reader engage with the arati and the legends of Ganesha in a meaningful and artistic manner. The book is a work of art! It’s easy to read, wonderfully vibrant and created for every kind of reader. You can read on the go, thanks to its convenient size. The sequence of presentation is interesting; the arati is presented across two folds, one in Marathi and the other, an English transliteration for the benefit of those unfamiliar with the Devanagari script. From children to seniors, from the devout to those simply interested in Indian mythology, The Ganesha Arati Book is appealing to everyone. Particularly reader-friendly are the set of instructions on Page 10 of the book that handhold readers through navigating the book. Similarly, the Glossary towards the end of the book introduces readers to a list of non-English words that appear throughout the book. The book is peppered with endearing legends about Ganesha too, which makes it both appealing and relevant to readers across ages, even in the 21st century.

 Ganesha in many ways is an icon that is hardly bound by the shackles of language and culture, which is what makes him such a universal favourite. And, The Ganesha Arati Book; Understanding Sukhakarta Dukhaharta successfully celebrates his universal appeal in the most unconventional and enchanting manner. It makes a great gift too, whatever the occasion; a baby shower, a housewarming or a wedding.