Alka and Arts: Crochet Decorative Arch, Makhar for Ganapati

Fig 1

Hello friends,
This is festival season in Maharashtra stste (India), Ganeshotsav. It starts on coming Saturday. Its the day of arrival of Lord Ganesh to earth from Kailash Parbat with his mother Parvati. Lord Ganesh is supposed to be the God of new beginning and remover of all obstacles in our good work. He is also God of intelligence and wisdom.
The festival is celebrated both personally in the family as well as commonly in every one's respected living area. Some celebrates the festival for 10 days, some for 5 days, 3 days or

Fig 2

even one and half days. On the very first day the Ganesh clay idol is installed at the decorated place in home. Then it is worshipped. Also a special sweet of Modak is made for him, called Prasad.
Last year I made this decorated place by plastic flowers but
this year I use handmade Decorated Arch for Lord Ganesh. This arch is called "Makhar". I made it simply by crochet 3D flowers and leaves.
First I cut an arch of required shape with paper then same shape on card board and then I wrapped it by two shades of green yarn. See fig 3 and 4. Then make 3D flowers and leaves and simply sew them to that wrapped arch. I don't paste them because I thought that after this festival I can reuse the flowers and make some doily.

Fig 3

Fig 4

Pattern:
Ring of ch 5.
R2: ch 5, [(dc 1, ch 2, dc 1) in next st, ch 2] rep, cl. Five Vs formed. Fig 5.
R3: ch 3, dc 4 in ch2-gap, dc 5 on right dc of V, fig 6, sc 1 in base st, [dc 5 on right part dc of V, dc 5 on ch 2 sp, dc 5 on

Fig 5

Fig 6

left part dc of V, sc 1 in base st] see fig 7, rep, lastly dc 5 on right part dc of V, sl st, cl.
Sew a big bead at the centre as in fig 8. Also sew petals as in fig 9.
From back side the flower will look as in fig 10.
I made such 8 flowers . Then sew big pearl at the centre of each joining their petals.
Sew one at each corner as shown in fig 1.

Fig 7

Fig 8

Fig 9

Flower at the top centre:
R1: with white yarn, in a magic loop ch3, dc 2, ch1, (dc3, ch1) 5 times, cl by sl st in third ch. BO.
R2: Join pink yarn, (ch3, dc 2 ch2, dc 3) all in ch 1 gap, (dc 3, ch2, dc 3) in each ch 1 gap.cl. Bind off. See fig 11.
R3: Join red yarn. In each ch 2 sp make dc 5, ch3-picot, dc 5, join by sl st in next gap, fig 12.

Fig 10

Leaf: With green yarn, make ch 12,

R1: sc 1 in third ch, hdc 1 in next, dc2 in next, tr 1 in next, tr2 in next, tr1 in next, dc2 in next, hdc 1 in next, sc 1 in last.

sc 1 in same st, hdc 1 in next st from other side, dc 2 in next, tr1 in next, tr2 in next, tr1 in next, dc 2 in next, hdc 1 in next, sc 1 in next, slip st in the first sc on other side.