By Shree Sauparnika V.  When we think of the Guru-Shishya Parampara, our minds usually paint a very specific picture: a wise sage with a long white beard, sitting under a massive banyan tree, while students sit in a neat circle memorising verses. But that is only one small chapter of a much grander story.  In ancient and medieval India, […]

by Keya Gupta Every year on 5th June, the world pauses to mark World Environment Day, a reminder to look closely at the natural world and our place within it. Across India, many communities have long practised their own forms of environmental ethics through festivals, rituals and everyday traditions that treat trees, groves and landscapes not as resources alone, […]

by Shree Sauparnika V.  On Buddha Purnima, we celebrate the three most significant events in the life of Gautama Buddha: his birth, enlightenment (Nirvana) and passing (Parinirvana or complete enlightenment). His journey toward truth did not begin in a single lifetime. It is chronicled through the Jataka Tales, a vast collection of over 500 stories […]

by Sudhalekshmi M. Most of us visualise Holi as a vibrant festival of colours. While it is true, there is more to the festival beyond colours. Come, let us dive into some regional flavours of Holi which would prompt us to look at the festival with a fresh pair of eyes.  Manjal Kuli or Ukuli from Kerala:  Amidst a festival […]

by Shree Sauparnika V  Makar Sankranti marks a special moment in the Hindu calendar: the day Surya, the Sun God, begins his northward journey, known as Uttarayan. This celestial shift is deeply significant, symbolising the return of light, warmth, and hope. As the days lengthen, the harvest is gathered, and life moves toward renewal, making it an auspicious time […]

by Keya Gupta The end of winter is when winter crops such as sugarcane, wheat, and sesame are harvested across the country. The harvest of these crops is traditionally celebrated across the country, as Makar Sankranti in many North and South Indian states, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Magh Bihu in Assam, and Lohri in Punjab […]

by Keya Gupta This time of the year, the days are short and the night falls sooner. Winter Solstice reminds us that while it is cooler and darker right now, warmer and lighter days are ahead. Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year. It has the latest sunrise of the year and earliest sunset, after which the […]

by Shree Sauparnika V In the sacred groves and village shrines of North Kerala and neighbouring parts of Karnataka, a centuries-old tradition continues to bind communities together. This tradition is Theyyam — a ritual where devotion, memory, and art come together in honour of local deities and ancestral spirits. Theyyam, derived from the Malayalam word […]