Category Heritage

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…

The Living Heritage of Ramnagar Fort, Varanasi

The Ramnagar Fort lies on the eastern bank of the Ganga River, opposite Tulsi Ghat in Varanasi. It was built in 1750 by Kashi Naresh Maharaja Balwant Singh, who established it as the royal seat of the rulers of Banaras. Constructed primarily from creamy Chunar sandstone, the…

The scholar who composed the “Suprabhatam”

Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam is a Sanskrit hymn traditionally recited early in the morning to awaken Lord Venkateswara at the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh. The word Suprabhatam means “auspicious morning,” and the hymn is a poetic invocation seeking divine blessings…