Colorful dances, multicultural extravaganza, classical music, spiritual teachings, mouthwatering street food of aamchi Mumbai and dilwalon ki Dilli, puppet shows depicting stories from the Ramayana, Bollywood music, and loads of enthusiastic people enjoying the revelry – that’s what Diwali in London at Trafalgar Square (also known as DOTS for...
Onam, Kerala’s harvest festival to commemorate the revered King Maveli, is a much-looked-forward-to festival not just for Malayalees but even for Palakkad Brahmins. Chingam is the first Malayalam month and Onam falls in this month.
The myth behind Onam
It is believed that Mahabali, also known as Maveli, the benevolent Asura king...
Before there were plates, there were banana leaves. This uniquely Indian tradition of eating on a banana leaf goes back thousands of years, before we used plastic, steel, or indeed anything else to make plates. Easily disposable and environmentally friendly, many Indian communities continue to follow this tradition today,...
Most Hindu festivals celebrate the avatar of God as a saviour of mankind. It is either victory of good over evil or the birth of divinity in human form. Sri Krishna Jayanti is also known by other names like Krishna Janmashtami, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, and Krishnashtami. Krishna, the eighth...
This year, the Easter celebrations across the world have been muted and quiet, with people praying in the privacy of their homes and the Vatican priests praying for the lives of people who are affected in their own country and across the world. Further, the Vatican issued a decree...
Goa BECKONS many visitors for various reasons. For me, travelling around India has been a fascination for some years, with paying my respects at various pilgrim and holy temples being the main agenda on most of my trips. In the past six years, I have travelled widely in India...
Celebrated on the 13th day of the Chaitra month of the Indian lunar calendar, Mahavir Jayanti or Mahavir Janma Kalyanak celebrates the birth anniversary of the Mahavir, who was the last of the 24 Tirthankaras.
Born as Vardhamana in the royal household of Vajji, in present-day Bihar, Mahavir was believed...
For yoga practitioners and teachers, pranayama is an often-cited word. Pranayama or life force is the breath work we do in yoga - to maintain the balance in body and mind.
According to a shloka in the atharvaveda:
Pranayamanmoyasya sarfa midam vashe
yo bhutaha sarvasyeshwaro yasminatsarva sarvpratishthatam
Hey Prana! You are the foundation...
A common thread that binds together a spiritually awakened former prince, a religion, an empire, inscriptions on pillars, and millions of devotees is but an ancient language, Pali. Buddha’s sermons carried its sounds, Buddhism carries its spirit, the great King Ashoka’s Mauryan Empire gave momentum to its usage, and...
Indian music is an ocean. It is fed by a multitude of rivers from different landscapes. With two leading schools of classical music, a vast number of folk traditions, influences from the world over and omnipresent film music, there is always a tune in the air and a hum...
There’s something about a new year that’s so exciting. Maybe it’s the casting away of the old and the excitement of a fresh, new beginning that gets us excited. For the orthodox Parsi community, however, there’s a lot more to it.
Pateti, as the Parsi New Year’s Eve is called,...
Namaste. Even if you do not use it yourself, you have probably heard it said many times. The young say it to the old and the old say it to each other. Even VIPs use it to greet the masses. What does it really mean? Is it as simple...
Today on Mahatma Gandhiji’s 71st death anniversary, what better tribute could we pay to the father of the Indian nation than taking time out to reflect on what came to be one of his favourite bhajans? These words resonate with those who walk the path of peace and endeavour...
What is 'Heritage'? Give this a little thought. We'll wait before sharing the definition with you. Quickly, think of something! Did the Taj Mahal pass before your eyes, your grandmother’s saris or your mother’s jewellery collection? Honestly, all of these are forms of heritage, some of these are extremely...
The regal state of Rajasthan is on almost every international tourist’s itinerary for its varied landscape, ethnic folklore, delicious food and warm people. Royal palaces and formidable forts apart, Rajasthani thali food seasoned with spices and herbs is visually appealing and tastes great.
The winter harvest festival of Makar Sankranti...
