Lord Krishna is believed to have advised King Yudhishtir, as recorded in the Bhavishya Purana, that on the full moon night of the Shravan month, offerings must be made to the deceased forefathers. Following this ritual in the morning, the royal priest must tie the sacred thread symbolizing ‘raksha’...
Kumbh mela, by far India’s most revered and sacred festival, is now also inscribed by the UNESCO as the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Tens of millions of devotees attend the purna kumbh mela that takes place every 12 years in Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik-Triyambakeshwar and Ujjain. Apart from this,...
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...
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...
One of the places famous for its beautiful beaches in India is the State of Odisha. The beaches of Odisha (Orissa) can really envelop you in a festive spirit. While enjoying the glory of a moderate sun here, the golden beaches leave you asking for more. Embraced lovingly by...
Trupti - a word I truly understood the meaning of when I attended the Palki Utsav held at Shri Chitrapur Matha in Shirali (Uttar Kannada) yesterday on the occasion of Kartik Poornima - which is celebrated with a lot of gaiety and pomp in most parts of southern India....
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...
The door's adorned with mango leaves, doorstep with rangoli...
The main doorstep of the house is being adorned with fresh mango leaves. A garland of yellow and orange flowers are also being made for the doorway. Rangoli, or muggu as it is locally known is being drawn at the gate....
There is something to be said for seeing nature up close. Not many of us do and those who have the courage come away with memories that are as vivid as they are unforgettable. Living in a country like India has its perks, especially as far as adventure is...
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...
India is a land of rich culture and a very long history, so it is no wonder that there are almost two dozen UNESCO World Heritage Sites here. They are every history buff’s paradise whether you head into Maharashtra to see the Ajanta and Ellora caves or make your...
Holding an authentic Pochampally Ikat Silk Saree in hand is like holding a plethora of emotions and a trove of creative hard work that went into its creation. Its lightweight fragility and smoothness give it comfort; its pretty geometric patterns can equally account for being valuable mathematics lessons and...
Johannesburg is the launching pad for many destinations within South Africa and the farthest place is less than a two-hour flight distance away. Historically Jo’burg, as people of the country call it fondly, is just about a century old, compared to Cape Town or Durban, but it attained importance...
Here are some recipes for keeping cool this Holi!
Blood Orange Mocktail
Ingredients
1 cup Blood Orange Tea, brewed and cooled
½ orange, freshly squeezed
2-3 slices orange for garnish
1 sprig thyme
ice
Instructions
Add the juice from half an orange into a jug.
Add the brewed Blood Orange Tea.
Sweeten as per taste
Pour the...
