The Hutheesing Haveli of Ahmedabad is resplendent in its myriad rich ancient traditions, dating back to the early 18th century. This dream space is abode to costume collector and craft revivalist, Umang Hutheesing.
Commissioned by Hutheesing’s grandfather, Shri Purushottambhai, the haveli had totally run to seed and it was recently that Umang Hutheesing decided to reconstruct it due to his attachment to the sanctum sanctorum that once housed his ancestors. The haveli thus became a veritable museum preserving rich art from the Vedic times.
The haveli has a puja room where one pays obeisance to the deities of the haveli. On the ground floor, there is the Kamal Kund Chowk or the common reception area overlooked by the terraces of the haveli. The splendid Lotus Courtyard used for classical dance performances and haveli sangeet brings to life the bygone era of darbars.
The red and yellow Surya Darbar, on the first floor, that symbolise fire and sunlight, is the grand reception hall. The Nav-Graha Audience Hall is the epitome of thematic interpretation of ‘Attithi Devo Bhava’. The hall is painted in red and green which symbolises fertility and longevity with walls adorned with zardozi pichwais and statues of deities.
The Padmalakshmi Dining Room is painted in pink and decorated with brocade pichwais depicting Lord Krishna playing the flute while his cows feed their calves. The room of leisure or the Narayana Sabha is blue with pichwais that depict Garuda, the Cosmic Vehicle and a granite statue of Narayana, the bringer of peace and justice.
The haveli also consists of the Matru Chhaya and Pitru Bhava which are the feminine and masculine antechambers. The Matru Chhaya is painted in pink which represents the heart of goddess Lakshmi where a mother nurtures her children, bestowing them with love and blessings. The Pitru Bhava is painted in blue which represents the heart of Narayana where a father lets his children imbibe wisdom, honour and family traditions.
On the second floor is the Vaikunth Vichar with a white and gold ceiling which symbolises purity and wealth. The morning lounge or the Utsav is a symbol of birth, harvest and prosperity. The evening salon or family room, Sharad Poonam is at two levels. The lower level is dedicated to the Surya Dev for activities of the day and the upper level is dedicated to Chandra Ma for activities of the night.
The Padma Vibhushan Feminine Suite symbolises Lakshmi rests at dusk and rises at dawn on the lotus which offers peaceful sleep and gentle awakening to the female occupants. The Shesh Nag Masculine Suite is based on the mythological tale where Narayana rested on Shesh Nag. The dressing room or the Sawarna Mukut are small atelier rooms with gold brocade canopies that symbolise the golden crowns of Lakshmi and Narayana. These rooms are used for introspection, adornment and mediation. There also exist the Nag Narayana Vanity Masucline bathroom and the Ambhuj Abhushan Vanity Feminine bathroom.
The Vasant Chowk has a fountain and beds of flowers that depict peace and happiness. This Chowk was made with an intention of taking one away from the chaos that existed outside the estate.