“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...
IWD 2020: 5 women scientists leading the way, making a mark, leaving a legacy
Arunima Hoskote and Ranjani Polepeddi -
According to the United Nations data, less than 30% of scientific researchers worldwide are women. Slowly and surely, the number of women and science and the impact they are creating with their work is making waves.
As a part of our endeavour to celebrate the achievements of women scientists in...
Jowar or sorghum is a kind of white millet. It grows abundantly in Maharashtra and some parts of Gujarat and Karnataka. The tender jowar grains are harvested in the winters. They are then roasted and beaten to separate the chaff from the grains to get hurda or ponkh.
Hurda...
Sometimes we need to make that external physical journey in order to make that inward spiritual journey and connect to our souls. That is the essence of the Pandharpur Yatra (pilgrimage) or ‘Wari’ as it is more commonly referred to.
The Wari
Sant Tukaram was the first one to set out...
Touristy places are incredibly convenient as they boast infrastructure and amenities for the comfort of visitors. But if you are someone who prefers to take the road less travelled and cannot be too bothered with amenities or the lack thereof, India has some fabulous offbeat places to visit. Check...
Jaipur - the pink city of India can be thought of as the melting pot of all things art and craft. With its own history soaked in art and valour, it should come as no surprise that Jaipur has mastered the skill of celebrating life and its many colours.
The...
"The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” - Robert Swan
The problem
Coral reefs are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. While they occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, they are home to more than one-quarter of all...
In the north-eastern region of Kerala, God’s own country, is the serene Wayanad district. Nestled in the lush green Western Ghats, this region will soon complete forty years of being officially recognised as a district. However, this region’s history dates all the way back to the Neolithic age which...
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...
Countdown to IWD: Celebrating beauty, courage, confidence, and strength in the woman of substance
Neha Prabhakar -
Women have been a true definition of beauty, as they hold in themselves, the perfect mixture of courage, confidence, adaptability, and strength at the same time. Over the past few years, women have depicted their skills and intelligence in more than one appreciable way. From females like Mother Teresa...
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...
At a time when we are still emerging from the lockdown and continue to be constrained by many travel restrictions, let us reflect on the travels we have had in the past and how they have enriched us.
Even with planned itineraries, confirmed bookings and extensive to-dos at our destination,...
“Maati kahe kumhaar se…” – the life and poetry of Sant Kabir Das
Arunima Hoskote and Neha Prabhakar -
Life and poetry of Sant Kabir Das
Sant Kabir Das (1440-1518 circa) is one of the most famous and intelligent poets and saints of India. He was a social reformer as well with most of his writings an irony and satire on social issues. His name did justice to who...
In the wake of the recent and rapid outbreak of the coronavirus, and the World Health Organisation's declaration of the disease COVID-19 as a pandemic, various countries have taken precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus. The most widely recommended and followed precautionary measure has been that...
It’s an interesting question that experts, psychologists, and spiritual gurus are perpetually giving us answers to. Everyone is seeking happiness - some find it in a stable career while others find it in the pursuit of more wealth. Some find it in close-knit relationships and familial ties while others...


























