This
year, the end of September marks the onset of Navaratri
or "nine nights" in the Hindu calendar. With
this begins one of the most festive phases in India,
with Durga Puja in east India (October 4-8), Dussehra in
north, central and west India (October 8), and Saraswati
Puja in south India. It also sets the stage for Diwali
in the near future.
The
Candy |
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It was the last day
of school before the Durga puja break, and Sharmila
was all excited. After a long time, her mother had given
her a puja gift: money to buy the delicious candies
the candy man got to school...
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on ...
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| The
Good, the bad and the ugly |
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Dussehra, Durga Puja,
Navaratri are all about the forces of good destroying
evil. But, as a mother points out in this letter to
her sons, the brilliance of epics is in the interesting
people it creates, who are sometimes heroes and sometimes
villains. And we would be lesser people if we forgot
that.
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on ...
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The
Nine Nights of Navaratri |
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Come Navaratri and it's
festival season in India! Navaratri is like a gateway
into the festive season, leading with two of the most
popular festivals in India, Dussehra and Durga Puja,
and anticipating Diwali.
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on ...
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Dussehra |
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After Navaratri comes
Dussehra or the tenth day of celebration as Vijayadashami
(victory day). It marks Rama's final vistory over Ravana
and is celebrated in a spectacular way from Kulu valley
in the north to Mysore in the south of India.
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on ...
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Many
Ramayanas |
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Tamil, Jain, Kannada
and even Thai, the Ramayana has been written and told
many times, and in many ways, though Valmiki and Tulsidas'
portrayals have gained more dominance..
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on ...
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Here
Comes Pujo |
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Nothing brings together
Bengalis better than Durga Puja, the annual festival
dedicated to Goddess Durga. Its origins might well be
religious, but at heart, this is a festival that celebrates
the joy and togetherness of being part of a community.
Read
on ...
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The
Business of Festivals |
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Every year during the
Pujas, organisers compete with one another to put up
the biggest and the jazziest celebrations. However,
in several of these Pujas, the worship of Durga is often
the last thing on the minds of people.
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on ...
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The
Making of the Goddess |
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The making of clay idols
of the goddess Durga in West Bengal, is an artistic
tradition that has continued for ages. But the process
also reveals how the hierarchy of the Indian caste system
is still in play, today.
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on ...
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| Festive
Bow and Arrow |
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Think of the characters
of the Ramayana and you automatically think of the bows
and arrows they carried. So make your friendly bow and
arrow this Dussehra.
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on ...
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| Paper
Plate Masks |
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Every other street in
India has budding child actors enacting the Ramlila
with great gusto - and masks are an important element
of their make-up. You can make those masks at home.
It's simple.
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on ...
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Festival Cards |
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It's that time of the year when you feel happy about everything, for the festival season is just starting. And sending e-cards is the best way to share this feeling with friends and family!
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on ...
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