All of us have either heard or seen different versions of the Ramayana or are familiar with it’s message of triumph of the good over the evil and thus, to most of us, the acute representation of an evil is Ravana. Through this article we aim at understanding the life of the ‘Evil Brahamana’ from a viewpoint that goes beyond our pre-existing perception of him.
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The Ramnagar Ramlila has piqued the interest of numerous historians, writers, journalists and travellers for its relentless religious observance and simplicity in execution. With UNESCO inscribing Ramlila the status of Intangible World Cultural Heritage in 2008, the acclaim and prestige for the one in Ramnagar has only escalated seeing as it is one of the world’s oldest Ramlilas.
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We all grew up reading mythological stories either from comic books, or we listened to our grandparents narrate it to us – almost as if they were a part of it. These stories would paint too many pictures inside our heads back then, but out there in the real world, they have been represented by many talented artists. Can we correlate?
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Lord Jagannath is a deity worshipped by people from various regional sections of the country. He is believed to be another form or avatar of Lord Vishnu himself. In a country like India, where we have people coming in from so many different backgrounds, we still find things to bind us together – be it in the name of faith or religion too.
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culture, UNESCO, lok sahitya, myths, folklore, folk tales, fables, anthropology, religion, monuments, epic tales, mythologies, Ramayana, Mahabharata, panchtantras, vikram and beetal, jataka tales, archaeology, oral traditions, Aladdin and magic lamp, Arabia, Persia, literature, rituals, history
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In Shankara’s age, the threat to Vedic dharma was from the evil within and he had to tackle it through intellectual debate or shastrarth. Evil therefore had to be fought with the weapon of jnana or true knowledge.
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Goa, also known as “The Pearl of the Orient” is usually associated with parties, beaches, authentic cuisines and cheap flea markets. Amidst all this, we forget to see the unusual side of this beautiful state that has so much to offer architecturally, historically, and culturally.
Goa has its authentic side too, and the Sao Joao Festival is just one of the things that adds to its authenticity.
Owing to its unique and vast cultural diversity, India has many festivals and celebrations specific to certain areas and regions. Since Hindus form the majority, a Hindu calender is followed to keep track of the festivities throughout the year. This calender holds great importance for a lot of people, and with good cause.
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Never had we ever imagined that we would one day face a situation wherein visiting temples virtually would actually become a reality. Sometimes, things do take a drastic turn and for all of us this year in 2020, the Corona Virus Pandemic has been that change giving us many new “Normals”. Only time will tell how this will shape our lives in the future.
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Checking days and festivals is now just a click away. Everything can be facilitated through smart phones and the internet. The age of calendars and it’s art now seems like a bygone era. Yet the remnants can still be seen in the corporate world.
How, when and why? Let's click on the link below to gain insights about calendar history in India.