Life in

LEELA

April 28, 2025

This issue’s 3 editorials feature garments by Indian designers, which are some of the incredible labels adorning the racks at LEELA LANE, a Sydney based boutique created and curated by Nidhi Mangal.
 
As you can see in the editorial, LEELA LANE isn’t about “desi wear” but first let’s explore what “leela” means. 
“Leela in Sanskrit means divine play, the idea that the universe, life, and creation are all a spontaneous, joyful, creative expression of the divine. It’s effortless, free, and full of beauty.” says Manghal.

Please note; this story explores LEELA the concept and the views, unless quoted, are solely that of the writer’s. 
Please also note, this is not a religious article, this is not a religious platform. This is a magazine and we are a curious, enlightened lot, and coincidentally my Husband and I have been chatting about how God… just “gods” [verb]. That the idea of God choosing what mood to be is very much a Human idea of God based on us, because Humans are a moody bunch.  Demanding, jealous, possesive and smite-happy too. 
From what I have come to understand, is that God, regardless of this being concept, construct or conciousness for you, seems to be feeling of its own. A perfect circle.

Naturally YAYOI KUSAMA would be the featured artist in this issue. [dropping May 3rd]. If you don’t understand the “naturally”, you will. 

“Leela” is closely associated with the story of Krishna and Radha. Krishna is a major pan-Hindu deity in Hinduism, an avatar of the “unmanifested God”, the model-everything including lover, and God of protection, compassion, tenderness, love and cows. Yes yes, Hinduism and cows, how novel.
 
Everyone knows that cows are sacred for Hindus and Hinduism, this is seen as symbolic rather than as a logical. Given that cows can plough the land and provide food, cows are bountiful living and beneficial when dead, so multiskilled, so powerful and yet, gentle, it makes practical sense to respect and worship them. 
Cows are also considered representative of Gifts of the Gods and of the… goodness of humans, essentially cows represent us. Krishna also being the God and Protector of cows makes sense now. And I like cows.
“Leela is generally understood as [..] a certain sweet and playful goodness that characterizes a universe whose essential nature is Shakti.” – Brittanica. 
Wiki says “The concept of Leela asserts that creation, instead of being an objective for achieving any purpose, is rather an outcome of the playful nature of the divine.” 
Hmmm, sounds like privilege. I’m joking. Sounds like a good way to be, and so alien to what we have been fed. Are we to rejoice or despair that we are a happy… beginning?
 
I feel it is passe to not acknowledge the existence of divinity. 

All religions have beautiful stories and perspectives of “God”.
It’s humans that religion seems to dislike.

Radha is traditionally worshipped as a gopi [female cowherd / milkmaid] rather than as Krishna’s wife like other divine pairings in the Hinduism anthology. Their love represents divine union, and Radha is no ordinary gopi. 
Wiki also says, “Krishna […] devotees worship Radha to attain Krishna via her.” 

Via The Cowherd.
I dig the symbology of that. 

AUDIO ARTICLE

Shown here are images from Life in LEELA LANE… a contemporary ode to modern day gopis in Australia.
Editorial 2: Life in LEELA LANE is… Futuristic.
Editorial 3: Life in LEELA LANE is… Retrocultural.
LEELA LANE: 
Located in Box Hill, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Visits by appointment. 
THIS IS NOT A PAID FEATURE. TS CHOOSES EDITORIALS, FEATURES AND FRIENDS.

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