Category Heritage

Tholu Bommalata – The art of storytelling through shadows

Tholu Bommalata, literally “leather puppet show” when translated from Telugu, is a centuries-old shadow puppetry tradition from Andhra Pradesh. Believed to have originated during the Satavahana period and flourishing under the Vijayanagara empire, it served as a powerful medium for…

What makes the Kovil Idli of Kanchipuram unique?

The Kovil idli served at the Varadaraja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram is steeped in ritual, flavor, and history. Unlike the soft, fluffy idlis found across South India, this temple version—also known as Kanchipuram idli—is larger, firmer, and richly spiced. It…

How WWII gave birth to the iconic Jeep

The Jeep was born out of urgency during World War II. In 1940, the U.S. Army needed a lightweight, four-wheel-drive vehicle that could handle rough terrain. They sent the specifications to 135 companies. They just gave only 49 days for…

Why nobles were called “blue bloods”

The term “blue blood” refers to someone of noble birth or aristocratic lineage and has a well-documented origin. Although commonly associated with British royalty, it first emerged in medieval Spain, where it was used to describe the pure-blooded nobility, especially…

Panchaganga Ghat – A Riverfront of Devotion and Struggle

Panchaganga Ghat in Varanasi holds a unique place among the city’s revered riverfronts. Its name derives from the belief that five holy rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Kirana, and Dhutapapa—once converged here, sanctifying it as a spiritual confluence even though only the Ganga flows physically through Varanasi…