About Me

Welcome to Khandava, where one woman (yep, just me) is managing to mostly keep everything running. Between juggling multiple jobs, dealing with my ever-unpredictable health, and usually keeping a roof over my head, I found the time to start this little business. It was meant to showcase my handmade products, but has slowly grown to also include other producer's products that I love.  

Now, let’s talk about sustainability. I’m not here to make the planet more miserable— hopefully a bit of the opposite. I'm all about reusing packaging. So, the next time you receive a package that looks like it might have had a previous life as a book box, just know that it's on purpose.  When it comes to the products I create, I love refurbishing vintage pieces. I often will use stones and metals that have been salvaged from ruined or discarded items.  I also sell products from companies that emphasize sustainability.

Thank you for supporting this single-handed spectacle, her chaotic foster dogs, and my weirdly sustainable business model. You’re basically keeping me afloat—and helping me justify my daily cuppa chai. 

 

******** What does Khandava mean? In the epic Mahabharata, Khandava was a vast, mythical forest teeming with an abundance of nature’s creations. The god of fire, Agni, found himself weakened and his flames dimmed, realizing that consuming the Khandava forest was the only way to regain his strength. However, Indra, the god of rain and thunder, repeatedly doused Agni’s fire to thwart his efforts. To overcome this challenge, Agni sought the help of Krishna, and together, they set the forest ablaze, reducing it to ashes. From the charred remains, the industrial city of Indraprastha arose, but Agni’s power was re-balanced amongst the gods.

The burning of the Khandava forest symbolizes the conflict between human progress and the environment. It represents the transformative impact of human expansion—whether in agriculture or urbanization. However, it also serves as a stark reminder of the environmental toll this transformation can exact, particularly in terms of biodiversity loss and the disruption of ecosystems.

Ultimately, the burning of the Khandava forest is a poignant metaphor for the complicated relationship between humans and nature. It underscores both the creativity and the and the ecological devastation in our efforts to reshape and control the world around us.  For me, this story resonates deeply, echoing my own struggle to navigate a capitalist world while yearning for simpler pleasures, like climbing trees and picking coconuts. It also reminds me that while destruction may sometimes be necessary for growth, it is never worth it when it comes at the expense of others.