Stretching from the arid landscapes of the Sahara Desert to the steamy jungles at the heart of the continent and the Southern wine country, Africa’s vastness and diversity are staggering. After four trips exploring all corners of the continent, I have still only just scratched the surface and never...
Mashed potatoes are simple yet an exquisite addition to dinner for meeting all your carbohydrate needs. They make a decent dinner idea when you don't feel like indulging in elaborate cooking and want a quick and light meal.
I often make a complete meal out of it when I am...
Among the umpteen festivals of India, Diwali is the most glorious and grandest of them all. An integral part of India’s cultural fabric, Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, which means a cluster of lamps.
The most common legend attached to Diwali is that Lord Shri Ram returned to...
Yoga means many different things to different people. For most people, it is just a form of exercise to keep healthy - in mind and body. But it has deep spiritual roots worth understanding for those keen on advancement on the spiritual path.
Yoga's philosophy, in a spiritual endeavour, is...
The Hindu festival of Kal Bhairava Ashtami is being celebrated in many parts of India today. It falls on the ashtami tithi of Krishna paksha of the month of Kartik (as per the South Indian Amavasyant calendar) or Margshirsha (as per the North Indian Purnimant calendar). This year it...
India – a land as vibrant as the strands that make up a tapestry and a land that cradles an ancient civilization where umpteen festivals are celebrated with dance and music. The leitmotifs of many of these dances are unpretentious – taken from everyday rituals: sowing, reaping the harvest,...
Today is the second day of the festivities of Diwali, which began with Dhanteras celebrations yesterday. The second day is known as Narak Chaturdashi - also known as the Narak Nivaran Chaturdashi or Roop Chaudas and more popularly among people as Chhoti Diwali. Almost all the traditional pujas that...
Beat the Corona fear by taking precautions
In the last few weeks, the world has become a very different place owing to COVID-19. There is a constant consuming concern of keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe. On the other hand, there is confinement under much required lockdown that may...
Mumbai: Marks & Spencer held an exclusive fashion show on Thursday 8th February 2018, showcasing their Spring Summer 2018 collection at the Four Seasons Hotel at Worli in Mumbai.
The collection was launched by Belinda Earl OBE, the interim Womenswear and Global Style Director for Marks & Spencer. Bollywood actors...
Unlike what a lot of people believe, Women’s Day is not a recent invention by women to get people to appreciate women and certainly not a trick to enjoy any special treatment for a day.
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements...
Chef Manish Kusumwal, the Corporate Chef at Keys Hotels, shares special Onam recipes with India Beckons readers.
Malayalis around the world are celebrating Onam as it is a harvest festival, one of three major annual Hindu celebrations along with Vishu and Thiruvathira, and it is observed with numerous festivities. The...
Padharo Mhare Des! This literally translates to ‘please come to our country’. With a tagline that is so warm and convivial and a welcome that is even more warm-hearted, Panchavati Gaurav offers so much more than one of the best thalis in the country!
Being a vegetarian and a big...
I love the hustle-bustle and energy of a railway platform - passengers alighting and boarding, the nudge, the jostle and the push. Every railway platform has its own unique charm and character.
As a resident of Mumbai, I have traveled between stations aplenty and eavesdropped on several conversations (not out...
Holi – that wonderful festival that conjures up images of rang, bhaang, gulal, abeer, and water pichkaris. It also reminds one of the childhood days, the complete abandonment with which kids play Holi and their oblivion to any notions of health or environment, as may be the case.
In India,...
A land of many cultures, several factors over the centuries have influenced the architecture of India. From the artisans who came to the country and built monuments of grandeur to the distinct seasons of its regions, inspiration from diverse sources resulted in unique and spectacular buildings that have stood...
