Culture

There was a time that seems so long ago, when the monsoon, whether advancing or receding,  was a time to rejoice. The rains provided relief from scorching summer and rejuvenated the …

Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, is a buzzword in the entertainment, fashion, and beauty industries. South Korea has captivated countries far and wide, from Europe to the USA. This achievement …

Legend has it that Indradyumna, the King of Kalinga, dreamed one night that Lord Vishnu was telling him to build a temple dedicated to Sri Krishna. The next morning, strolling by the …

Does any Indian city breathe, live, and prosper like a human body? It has a heart, too, and a head and lungs. More than a city made of brick and …

Long before the modern laboratory—with its calibrated furnaces, chemical retorts and pharmacological protocols—Indian scholars were developing an elaborate discipline devoted to transforming metals and minerals. At the centre of this …

Manipur, situated between Nagaland and Mizoram, shares the international border with Myanmar. A Hindu Kingdom for centuries, it is home to many tribes inhabiting the valleys and highlands, proud of …

Ganeshotsav is celebrated on a grand scale in Mumbai in July. Gigantic Ganesh idols are fabricated and displayed in public spaces. Smaller ones are installed at home, worshipped for ten …

Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah’s mangled corpse was being paraded on the back of an elephant through the alleys and markets of Murshidabad! The purpose was to inform the residents of Murshidabad that …

Bhadrapad gets its name from the nakshatras purva and uttar Bhadra and the constellation  associated with Bhadra the fierce sister of Shani (Saturn) the malevolent planet. According to legend she …

At an age when global fast-food choices such as momos, pizzas, and sandwiches dominate the street food scene and enjoy immense popularity among youngsters, a humble Dogra delicacy—Kaladi — is …

The month of Shravan (corresponding to June-July in the Gregorian calendar) is sacred to the devotees of Shiva. Barefoot, thousands of kanwaria hit the road, mindless of the heat and …

For four decades, a woman from Hiranar village in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district has been winning a war that no rifle could win. Dr. Budhri Tati — known across South Bastar …

When the sky darkens with rain-bearing clouds, lightning flashes, and thunder rumbles, announcing the onset of the monsoon, separation from the beloved becomes unbearable. This is when villages in eastern …

From militancy to peace, from barren slopes to fragrant lavender fields, the rugged Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir is scripting one of India’s most remarkable stories of rural transformation—a …

Article 1 of the Indian Constitution states, “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.” For years, Bharat has seen the co-existence of diverse communities, each with their …

Kalidas, the great Sanskrit poet, composed his lyric poem Ritusamharam celebrating seasons circa the 5th century CE. The opening canto lists things that are cool to the touch and bring …

The whole world today is aware of yoga, India’s unique gift to humanity. It is recognised as the foundational concept of Indic civilisation. It is ironic that the equally seminal …

High in the cold desert air of Ladakh, prayer flags flutter against a cobalt sky while monks in crimson robes chant beneath snow-lined peaks. In the ancient Himalayan region where …

Hampi Art Labs is possibly one of the most striking new cultural institutions to emerge in India in recent years: part art destination, part production site, part retreat. Launched in …

There is a particular kind of exhaustion that defines our age. Not the honest tiredness that follows hard work, but something more corrosive: the fatigue of people who have chased …

Through the centuries, India has been a source of inspiration for art and architecture in Indonesia as it has been to the entire Southeast Asia. Today, a myriad of cultural …