Culture

On Friday, 11 September 2026, in the ceremonial quiet that precedes a summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed Russian President Vladimir Putin a book. The setting was Bharat Mandapam in …

An old saying puts three regions above others praising their pleasant climatic features in morning, evening and night- Subah-e- Benaras, Shaam-e- Awadh and Shab- e-Malwa. People translate this as the …

The romantic label “Kashmiriyat”—shared language, folk customs, reverence for certain saints, and a supposedly seamless blend of Shaivism, Buddhism, and Sufism—has been endlessly invoked by politicians, poets, and commentators. It …

The face of the city has changed almost  beyond recognition since the days when the princely painter Ravi Varma from Kerala recreated the landscape of Shehar Jeypore on his easel. Founded by a …

The world knows the Mithila region in the state of Bihar as home to radiant Madhubani paintings that traditionally adorned walls in village homes. The images recreated scenes of Sita’s …

When we hear the words foreign policy we tend to think of diplomatic meetings, treaties, trade agreements and international summits. Movies are not often on my mind. But in today’s …

Aizawl, Kohima and Mokokchung sit within a distinctive Northeast Indian landscape where faith, community life and seasonal celebration are closely interwoven. Their inclusion in the national PRASHAD programme places Christian-majority …

Rabindranath Tagore, the myriad-minded man, had, in the wake of the Partition of Bengal in 1905, launched a visionary campaign—a mass Raksha Bandhan—with Hindus and Muslims tying rakhis on each …

Tucked away in the historic heart of Old Goa, the Basilica of Bom Jesus stands as a towering testament to architectural brilliance, enduring faith, and India’s multifaceted history. With its …

A slab of stone on the floor of St. Francis Church in Fort Kochi is something most visitors walk right past on their way to somewhere shinier. It is unadorned, …

In the dense forests of Bastar, women once moved under the cover of canopy and ideology, rifles slung across their shoulders, part of an armed struggle that claimed to fight …

Independence Day is celebrated every year with the unfurling of the tricolor on the ramparts of the Red Fort, and sweets- mostly a couple of bundi laddus- are distributed to …

As India prepares to celebrate its 80th Independence Day, the Red Fort will become a meeting ground of memory and aspiration — commemorating 150 years of Vande Mataram while placing …

For the devout and pious Indian (or Indian Indonesian), the province of Sumatra is like comfort food. Replete with Indian temples of bewildering variety and preferences, Sumatra offers spiritual solace …

Much of India’s democratic heritage is often traced to ancient republics such as the ganas and sanghas, village panchayats, and the deliberative traditions described in classical texts. Yet, one of …

“Tyger! Tyger! burning bright,In the forests of the night;What immortal hand or eye,Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” Sadly, the king of the Indian forest, the mount of Goddess Durga, is …

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 …