PROFILE

(From top) Christine Cledat; Kanak Bhargava; a copper and fibreglass lotus showpiece

Fancy sinking your head into a pillow or a cushion that has one of Osho’s many famous messages neatly embroidered on it? Or would you like to drink coffee out of a mug with a lotus motif or decorate your home with candle-stands in silver, steel or copper that are elaborately designed like spirals? In case you’re wondering, both the lotus and spiral are symbols that Osho used to illustrate his teachings.

These and many more Osho-inspired designs greet you at the Osho World Galleria in Calcutta’s Infinity Benchmark in Saltlake and its sister outlet in Delhi. “The lotus is a spiritual flower that he often referred to in his sermons while the spiral symbolises the inner journey of man,’’ says Ma Prem Naina, co-ordinator of Osho World Foundation.

Ceramic candle-stands

Run by the Osho World Foundation, the Galleria aims to familiarise people with Osho’s teachings. There’s a sense of calm inside Osho World that’s heightened by soft meditative music, incense and the array of Osho-inspired motifs that appear on the lifestyle products lined neatly on the shop-shelves.

The products here are created by a group of seven designers who work full-time and specialise in designing different products. Kanak Bhargava and Christine Cledat lead the design brigade. Bhargava, 45, is a textile designer with more than 20 years of experience in textiles while Cledat, 50, is a French stylist and textile expert based in Paris. She visits India four times a year and does most of the designing from Paris.

Buddha candle-stands

You’ll find innumerable items here to pep up your home. There’s glassware, ceramic products, metal ware, sculptures, home furnishing and even garments and fashion accessories — all inspired by the teachings of the spiritual guru. “There’s more to the products than just their utilitarian value,” says Bhargava. And Osho followers will be happy to note that the next Osho World Galleria will soon open in Jaipur followed by other metros.

Trends

A silver bookmark

More than trends, the Osho World Galleria is driven by auspicious occasions. It regularly unveils new product lines inspired by different festivals. “To show our respect for humanity, we celebrate every festival with a new collection,” says Naina.

For their fashion collections, the designers stay with natural fabrics like cotton, linen, silk and wool that symbolise simplicity. The colours are subdued and earthy to signify meditative energy. So, you’ll find a profusion of white, yellow, orange, maroon and black.

The gallery is gearing up for all the upcoming festivals of the year. The Diwali collection will be called Appo Deepo Bhava meaning ‘Be a light unto yourself’ and will introduce a range of festive lights in the form of aromatic candles and diyas in steel, silver and stone. Guru Nanak’s birthday, which the Galleria calls the Nanak Week, will see the colour yellow dominate the store. “It’s a shade that’s associated with Guru Nanak and is also the colour of the rising sun,” says Naina. For Christmas, expect aromatic candles, candle-stands, lights and cushions with Santa or reindeers embroidered on them.

PROducts

A pair of copper candle-stands

The Galleria’s latest line of garments and home furnishing, called the Haiku Collection, takes inspiration from the 17th-century Japanese poet, Basho. Since his poetry was about the spirit of Zen, this line is minimalistic with simple patterns, no embellishments and comfort. The garments are priced from Rs 550 to Rs 5,000. Cushions cost from Rs 150 to Rs 350 and the mats and runners come for Rs 125 to Rs 650 per piece.

A silver candle-stand on a wooden base

Their new range of silver products, the Mevlana Silver Collection, is also all about minimalism. Silver is used by the designers for its spiritual appeal. “Silver is known as a cold metal and it’s considered a metaphor for the moon. Besides, it is believed to have positive healing effects,” says Bhargava.

The cushions come in varied earthy colours

This line draws inspiration from Osho’s ABC concept — Aesthetics, Beauty and Creativity. The prices are between Rs 1,000 and Rs 25,000. The silver pendants and earrings are priced from Rs 750 to Rs 2,250. Silver bookmarks can be yours for between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,500.

The ceramic line, designed and outsourced from a group of studio potters, highlights Osho’s vision of simplicity. Platters are priced between Rs 750 and Rs 3,000 and the mugs come for Rs 100 to Rs 250. Colourful Buddha candle-stands come for Rs 2,000.

The designers have separate lines dedicated to copper and steel. “We feel that they are spiritual materials with healing properties,’’ says Naina. A copper globe costs Rs 1,500. Copper vases range from Rs 250 to Rs 1,150, decorative copper flower-stems and leaves are priced at Rs 150 and candle holders in stainless steel are priced between Rs 250 and Rs 2,000.