Culture

The age of illustrative digital dissent

The age of illustrative digital dissent

August 7, 2021

It is April 2021, the second wave of Covid-19 has hit India like a tonne of bricks, shattering the entire healthcare system. People are dying left and right, the politicians who are supposed to lead the country away from this catastrophe are missing. Hundreds of thousands lose th...

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Temple art in India: Masterpieces of art turn into taboos

Temple art in India: Masterpieces of art turn into...

August 3, 2021

If taboo in modern Indian society were to be defined in one word, then there is no better candidate than sex, a hush-hush topic discussed only behind closed doors. As parts of the world push the envelope of liberalism, India is turning increasingly conservative. Traditional India...

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Ahom tribes: A world in itself from Assam

Ahom tribes: A world in itself from Assam

August 1, 2021

Armed with a razor-sharp Hengdang, the swords used by Ahoms during battle, whose handle made of solid gold reflects the shine of the scorching sun. In the searing heat, as sweat and toil runs boisterous in their blood, the warriors of just and righteous make their way through swa...

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Street Art: Self-expression and social activism

Street Art: Self-expression and social activism

July 29, 2021

Street art originated in New York City with tagging or graffiti writing on public property in the 1970s. It arrived in an organised way in India when the Street Art Festival was held in Delhi for the first time in 2013, bringing together a community of artists from all over India...

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Exploring religion, mythology and nature in Indian sculptures

Exploring religion, mythology and nature in Indian...

July 15, 2021

One of the oldest art forms to exist, sculpture art has been a widespread practice since the Indus Valley Civilisation, when small terracotta figurines were first made, usually of women or animals. A significant way for historians to document life at the time, such as a war victo...

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Ethnic Indian wear: Vibrant mix of culture and history

Ethnic Indian wear: Vibrant mix of culture and his...

July 13, 2021

The history of Indian clothing dates back to the Indus Valley Civilisation, when clothes were dyed and spun from cotton. Stories of ancient Indian clothing have been told as far back as in the Mahabharata as well as rock sculptures and cave paintings found in Ellora. These styles...

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Instagram brings back poetry from the dead

Instagram brings back poetry from the dead

July 2, 2021

Rupi Kaur, an Indian-Canadian who is the first of the “insta-poets” with 4.3 million followers, has been praised for being a voice of diversity in a poetry scene largely dominated by white, male authors. Her first collection, milk & honey, which reached the New York Time...

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Festivals of India: Unconventional, unusual and unique

Festivals of India: Unconventional, unusual and un...

June 27, 2021

For long, India has been known all around the world for its vibrant festivals and traditions owing to the diversity in culture, religion and languages. This uniqueness in the ethnicity of the country contributes to a realm of unusual festivals and traditions. Here is a list of so...

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Silambam: An unlimited martial art form faces uncertain future

Silambam: An unlimited martial art form faces unce...

June 24, 2021

Karthik Ajay, a self-defence trainer from Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, had first thought of Silambam as simply an old tradition that did not hold any value in modern times. But after going through some difficult times in his personal life and feeling lost, it suddenly came into his l...

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Nagpanchami: How different Indian states celebrate snake worship

Nagpanchami: How different Indian states celebrate...

June 22, 2021

Animal worship has always been a key aspect of Hindu worship, with devotees often relating them directly with their deities. Associated with gods such as Shiva, Vishnu and Subramanya, snakes, known as “naga” or “nagin,” have been an important part of Indian mythology for ...

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