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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...

Jaisalmer, the golden city of Rajasthan, exudes an air of regality that is unrivalled. Yet, to truly unravel its opulence, one must approach the exploration of this majestic city with thoughtful planning. Here, where the dunes whisper tales of bygone eras, and the forts stand as stoic guardians of...

Alibaug (Arunima Takiar, 2019) Cracked seashells, your pointed edges lucidly reveal intact sand grains wrapping fervently around your body parts, twisted in unfamiliar time zones fast-forwarded from a past of splinters that defied permanence, trodden by unknowing feet on happy sojourns, (broken) not lost, vestiges in shining  specks of beach shimmer that defy impermanence. When yours truly wanted to escape for the weekend and was looking for inspiration to write a poem, a...

Magnificence and history of Umaid Bhavan Palace in Jodhpur and its royal family Umaid Bhavan Palace located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is considered among the world’s largest private residences. One part of the palace is managed by the Taj Hotels and the other part belongs to the royal family. The present...

Krishna Janmashtami, or Janmashtami as it is more popularly known, is the day when Lord Krishna, the eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was born. Celebrated on the eight day of the dark fortnight of the Shravana month, this is a festival whose traditions reflect the vivacious personality of Lord...

Goswami Tulsidas, or more famously Tulsidas, was an Indian poet-saint, philosopher, composer, and social reformer widely known for his literary work Ramcharitmanas - the Hindi equivalent of Saint Valmiki’s Ramayan. Life and times Tulsidas was born into a Hindu Vaishnav family in the year 1532 A.D. in the village of Rajapur...

Festivals are usually a time to rejuvenate, to let go and wash off the negativities and to make way for the new year and for a new beginning. It’s a time to reflect and a time for soul cleaning. It’s about shedding the old skin of darkness and ignorance...

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...

Delhi means so many things to so many people. For people living in Delhi, no other place compares to it. Having spent my childhood in Delhi, having worked there in later years, and having close familial ties there, I have a fondness for the city that ensures I keep...

“Holi Hai!” The sound of that instantly conjures a visual of a cloudburst of colours for anyone who has ever seen what Holi is. In a brilliantly plural country like India, every festival has its own unique tradition in different parts of the country and Holi is no different. Holi...

We studied Sanskrit in school, albeit with the aim of scoring high in the final examination, hardly realising that this exotic language of ancient India is the door to the secrets of our sacred ancient texts, which can unravel many a mystery of spiritual life and heritage, which is...

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...

Another action-packed IPL evening peppered with some pampering at an elegantly-designed art deco style hotel in the Heritage Precinct of Mumbai made for a great mid-week outing. IPL was fun and thrilling, in turns! Much to the relief of Mumbai Indians supporters this time, the MI gave a decent target to...

There is an old Japanese proverb: only staying active can make you want to live a hundred years. Can you imagine a Japanese village island tucked away in the southern hinterlands of the country where 24.55 people per 1000,000 inhabitants have lived a hundred years and beyond? It is actually...

Don't go by the headline of the article. That's just to catch eyeballs. But the article is more interesting because it shows you ways you can combine some leisure into your business travel itinerary to make the most of your travelling, When you are travelling on business, you often...