Art & Culture

Tensions Flare Over Successor ChoiceChina has intensified its stance that any future Dalai Lama must be approved by the Chinese government. At a July 2 press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized that key religious figures, including the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama, must be selected using the Qing dynasty’s “golden urn” ritual and…

Stampede Strikes During Early-Morning RitualA tragic stampede erupted near the Shree Gundicha Temple in Puri, Odisha, early Sunday (June 29), coinciding with a key ceremony during the Rath Yatra festival. Three devotees lost their lives and around 50 others sustained injuries, as a sudden crowd surge led to panic and chaos among throngs of early-morning pilgrims. Overcrowding…

Devotees Flock at DawnThousands gathered in the early morning hours at Puri’s famed Jagannath Temple to witness the Nabajouban Darshan, a traditional moment marking the youthful reappearance of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra following their fortnight-long seclusion. The temple’s Lion Gate (“Singha Dwar”) saw devotees lining up from before sunrise, eager for a…

A Historic Auction on the HorizonAstaGuru Auction House is gearing up to host an online sale next week featuring the most extensive Rabindranath Tagore lot ever offered: 35 handwritten letters dated between 1927 and 1936, accompanied by 14 original envelopes. The auction’s estimated value ranges between ₹5 crore and ₹7 crore, underscoring the collection’s cultural…

Modi’s Greetings from Andhra PradeshOn June 21, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended warm wishes to the nation on International Yoga Day from the coastal city of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The event saw an unprecedented scale of participation as tens of thousands gathered to celebrate the ancient practice, highlighting India’s growing role as the global…

Early Life and Forest CallingBorn on November 5 (or 12) in 1932 in Solapur, Maharashtra, Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli, revered as “Aranya Rishi” or “Forest Sage”, felt a deep connection with nature from a young age. Influenced by his family and mentors, he pursued forestry at the prestigious Coimbatore Forest College in 1958 and later joined…

Honouring the Heartbeat of the Family on June 15 As the world prepares to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, June 15, 2025, the digital sphere is overflowing with heartfelt messages, touching quotes, expressive wallpapers, and thoughtful gift ideas. Observed on the third Sunday of June each year, Father’s Day stands as a global tribute to…

Introduction India has expressed strong condemnation over the recent vandalism of Rabindranath Tagore’s ancestral home, Shahjadpur Kachharibari, in Bangladesh’s Sirajganj district. The incident, which occurred on June 8, 2025, has sparked outrage in both nations, highlighting concerns over the preservation of shared cultural heritage. The Incident The altercation began when a visitor to the Rabindra…

A Day of Faith, Sacrifice, and Sharing On June 7, 2025, Muslims across India came together in large numbers to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha, the festival that honours Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. Also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” Eid-ul-Adha is one of the most significant days…

A Spiritual Gathering of Unprecedented Scale On June 5, 2025, over 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims from around the globe converged at Mount Arafat, marking the pinnacle of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. This sacred day, known as Yawm al-Arafah, is considered the holiest in the Islamic calendar. Pilgrims, dressed in simple white garments, ascended the rocky…