Posts in design
SELF HATING (Indian Americans). Loving HINDU TEMPLES. AUNTIES & UNCLE GUTS.

If Hinduism is such a DOPE OPENMINDED INCLUSIVE faith……then…

WHY DO SO MANY INDIAN AMERICANS GROW UP WITH SELF-HATRED, MAKING FUN OF HINDU RITUALS / PRACTICES, DEITIES, INDIAN ACCENTS, FOOD, DRESS ETC. & CONFUSE BEING “INDIAN” (WHICH IS A NATIONALITY/RACE) WITH BEING A HINDU (A FAITH THAT ANY PERSON OF ANY NATIONALITY/RACE CAN PRACTICE) ???

Read More
A Muslim Musician wrote a MANTRAM!

A mantram can be repetitive (but doesn’t have to be) and is used for meditation, prayer, and maybe even to set your intentions/goals. For me, Alam Khan’s album Mantram is a true spiritual/religious experience. I LOVE every single track and I am in tears by the end of it, but happy tears because I’ve seen my beloved Lord. It reminds us that no matter how much crap and emotional turmoil we’ve all gone through in life, HOPE & LOVE is what wins at the end.

Read More
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.

Read More
activism, activist, appreciation, art, artwork, change, change in thinking, classical traditions, create the change, cross cultures, culture, cultures, design, diversity, distinctive, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, graphic design, hindu, hinduism, history, impact, inclusion, holiday, inspiration, interfaith, islam, language, languages, museum, my story, music, oneness, painting, religion, religions, prayer, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, travel, unique, unity, unityindiversity, travel diaries, reflections, world religions, islamic art, racism, Islamophobia, anti semitism, love, compassion, new york, nycsangeetha kowsikart history, art, design, designs, designer, history, museum, the metropolitan museum of art, truth, hate, love, compassion, islam, islamicarchitecture, architecture, reli, faith, interfaith, islamic, judaism, jew, jewish, christian, christianity, fatima, prophet, spain, spiritual, spirituality, inspiration, portugal, heart, one love, true love, mystory, my truth, jesus, interconnectedness, international, unity, unityindiversity, community, communities, travel, travelling, instatravel, travel blogger, travels, granada, cordoba, castle, seville, allhambra, pilgramage, typography, stereotypes, gratitude, activist, activism, racism, change, bethechange, connected, colonization, culture, crosscultural, cultural diversity, cultures, ancient traditions, tradition, traditions, world, oneness, one world, oneneww, global, global culture, global cultures, antisemitism, phobia, hatred, peace, understanding, educate, education, educateyourself, blog, blogger, non violence, ahimsa, gandhi, india, dharma, sanatana dharma, sanskrit, southasia, southasian, southasianartist, southasianart, south aisa, south asia, south indian, south india, together, unique, ancient cultures, beauty, shrine, prayer, worship, pattern, repeat pattern, islamicart, islamic art, islamic pattern, andorra, iberian, Iberian Penninsula, spanish, sephardicComment
Faith, Fusion, ABCD, Cultural "Norms", it’s time to CHANGE!

This is the same issue many children of immigrants face if they don’t have light skin, light eyes, and a “white” name. We always have to prove our “Americaness” or our “Ethnic Identity” over and over again and frankly, it’s just EXHAUSTING.

I HATE the word “ETHNIC” which needs to be removed from the English language! Ethnic literally describes anyone who is not white! HOW RUDE!

I am sick/tired of folks confusing “Indian culture/communities/society” with the FAITH of Hinduism.

I always found solace, peace, and understanding in my faith in Hinduism though I grew up in a chaotic/mishmash often contradicting Indian/Hindu/American culture and society. For example, I never understood why “Brown/Indian” American women were made to feel ashamed to date, go to school dances, date/marry folks of other races, wear tank tops, bikinis, etc.

SOCIETY & COMMUNITIES create stupid rules, divisions, racism, sexism, hate, patriarchy, and bigotry, not FAITH.

Read More
I'm Hindu, DON'T eat Indian Food, Drink Chai, or Practice Yoga - FAITH vs. CULTURE

“Hindu Faith” and “Hindu Culture” are two very different things.
Nowhere in any Hindu religious scripture does it say to serve Palak Paneer, Samosa, or Dosa!
I wish the west would take the time to understand and appreciate the diversity of India and Indian Americans!

Read More
Hindu/Religious VS. Spiritual/Dharmic/Vedic - Gym, Puja, Design

Since when did the word “RELIGION” or “RELIGIOUS” start to freak people out? It boggles my mind.

If a Muslim says they are religious they are immediately branded as a “Terrorist”, If a Christian says they are religious they are immediately branded as a “Bible-thumping, right-wing, Trump lover”
If a Hindu says they are religious they are immediately branded as a “Cow piss drinking, right-wing, Modi lover”

Becoming Chaplain was the first time I ever spoke up about “Being Hindu”. It was never an identifying mark for me, not something I went around proclaiming, I’ve always lived my faith, I just WAS, Gym, Puja, Design, every single day!

Read More
Fashions of the Deities

I've always admired how much effort, thinking, planning, it takes to dress a deity, it's almost like a runway production after every puja!

My heart would leap in joy every time the doors would open and I could see the deities!!

This naturally made me want to study fashion design and art in general!

But Alankaram isn’t a “superficial” display of gorgeous garments, flowers, and jewelry. There is a deep spiritual meaning behind everything in Hinduism. South Asia and what is now called India was once an extremely wealthy and agriculturally rich landmass. Back in the day folks would express gratitude to the divine by offering flowers, gold, garments, food, etc.

Read More
I WON! Winner- Re-Imagining Democracy Future Art Awards - Virtual Exhibition - Black Lives Matter Design

I’m beyond thrilled and honored to win a special mention artist award for my Black Lives Matter Design in this year’s 2021 Future Art Awards Re-Imagining Democracy by Mozaik Philanthropy! I’m thrilled to be included in the Virtual Art Exhibition up on their website! https://mozaikphilanthropy.org/2021-exhibition/

MY REFLECTIONS:

I never understood why I have had only one black boss in the 20+ years I’ve worked in the world of fashion.

Read More
Brooklyn Museum Popup - My Customers are so DIVERSE! Grateful!

The world says “to define my customer base” Well I find that really difficult for me! My customers that day included Japanese Grandmas, Latino Boys, Young African American Gay Men, Hipsters, Hindu folks, Muslim folks, Arab families, Turkish families, and many more! My work appeals to a wide range of races, nationalities, ages, demographics, etc. I believe that art and design are the way to bring together diverse communities.

Read More
BLACK MUSLIM EXPERIENCE, UMMAH, EID & ME - Juneteenth

I was the ONLY non-Black, non-Muslim, non-Hijab, non-Nikab wearing person/lady there! Did I feel any different? NO! I was welcomed with so much love and respect into this Ummah! (Community)

Read More
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”)

Read More
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) ☪️

Read More
Krishna Janmashtami and The Prophet's (PBUH) sandal

Islam and Hinduism teach the unity of God / service to mankind — a message both Prophet (PBUH) and Lord Krishna taught.

Read More
#blacklivesmatter. One World. Be the Change.

All FAITHS (symbols of every major faith). ONE WORLD. WE Together stand against racism!

Read More
Eid Mubarak! Eid Ambarki Ighudan!

Ramadan concludes with morning Eid Prayers outside in Washington Square Park which is so special and absolute magic. Though I’m the Hindu Chaplain for NYU, my brothers have always included me in Eid prayers, I have celebrated with the Islamic Center any times.

Read More
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)

Read More
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"

Read More
Nowruz/Norooz/Nowrooz Mubarak! : Persian New Year

NOWRUZ/Norooz/Nowrooz Mubarak! Inspired by pop art, fashion, and "modern" Persian calligraphers

Read More
Ali Akbar Khan + Goddess Saraswati + Shiva Vishnu Temple = Bay Area, California

All Indian Classical Music and Dance traditions are rooted in worship and are ways to connect to the divine. The father of Hindustani music was a Muslim, the 13th C Sufi poet/musician/scholar Amir Khusrow. The father of Carnatic music was a Hindu, the 16th C saint/poet Purandara Dasa.

Read More
Urdu Calligraphy + Emojis & Imam Khalid Latif = Friendship

Hindus & Muslims
ARE NOT THAT DIFFERENT!

Read More