India Beckons wishes its readers a very happy Dhanteras.
Dhanteras, also known as Dhantrayodashi, marks the beginning of the five-day festival of Diwali and, according to the Hindu calendar, is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha ('Dhan' means wealth and 'Teras' means thirteenth). This is the day...
Fats are one of the most important macronutrients for the human body. Fats are building blocks for around 70 trillion cells that make up our body. Our hormones, bile, and cholesterol also consist of fats. The body uses fats as an energy source and protection.
Fatty acid deficiency is widespread...
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...
In India, Navami is celebrated as the last day of the nine nights of Navratri – the festival in which Goddess Durga is worshipped and revered. In north India, especially amongst the Punjabi community, it is celebrated by holding kanjak or kanya pujan, where young girls, who are thought...
Navratri is coming to a close and Dussehra will soon herald the end of celebrations. Through it all, Ramlila has been held, regaling audiences with enactments of the Ramayana through the epic poem, Ramacharitmanas. For those unfamiliar with this, Ramacharitmanas narrates the glory of Shri Ram and Ramlila showcases...
Following the period of austerities of shraddh, Navratri flags off the festive season of dance and divinity. During the Navratras (Navratri), Durga is worshipped and invoked with kalash, flowers, and prayers.
Folk legend says the evil forces of demon Mahishasura posed a threat to humanity. All the gods combined their resources...
Lord Ganesha commands a unique position in the Hindu pantheon and is depicted in the most ingenious and imaginative forms. The colourful, elephant-headed deity of four-armed Ganpati riding a mouse is invoked by every devout Hindu before beginning a new venture or carrying out an auspicious mission.
Antiquity of Ganesha
Historians...
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...
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...
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...
Raksha Bandhan means a thread tied as protection. Securing a thread with sanctity means much more than this. It could be a sister tying a rakhi on her brother’s wrist to seek his protection or it could be a mangalsutra tied by a man when he takes a woman...
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,...
The Parsis, which means Persians, the followers of prophet Zoroaster, migrated to India to escape religious harassment and discriminations by another community (Muslims). As they turned from refugees to residents of India, the Persian sway shrank except for the use of dry fruits and nuts in pulavs.
While Iranian cooking...
Once considered a rare exotic fruit and available only to a very limited number of people, today we can enjoy the delicious papaya and its benefits all year round. The fruit and its seeds contain ingredients that have medicinal properties and nourish our body on many different levels. Papaya definitely stands out...
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...
