Storyteller, Quizzer, Marcom Pro.
Storyteller, Quizzer, Marcom Pro.
Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam is a purification ceremony undertaken at the Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala. The term literally means “cleaning of the holy shrine” in Tamil, with Koil signifying holy shrine, Alwar meaning devotee/sanctified ones, and Thirumanjanam referring to an…
During Ganesh Chaturthi/Vinayaka Chavithi, devotees bring home or install Lord Ganesha’s idol and worship him for ten days, marking his symbolic presence on earth. The worship culminates with the immersion or Visarjan, which has a spiritual and cultural meaning. According…
Pani puri, known as gol gappe in North India, phuchka in Bengal, gupchup in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, is one of the most savored street foods in the Indian subcontinent. These small, crisp puris are filled with spicy water, tamarind chutney,…
Unakoti, in Tripura’s Unakoti district, is an ancient Shaivite pilgrimage and archaeological marvel, famed for its colossal rock-cut sculptures and intricate bas-reliefs. Bas-reliefs are shallow carvings on a flat surface where figures slightly stand out from the background. The name…
Arichal Munai, meaning “erosion point” in Tamil, marks the southeastern tip of Rameswaram Island and is considered the final edge of the Indian mainland. Located approximately 25 to 30 kilometers from Sri Lanka, it is the point where the Bay…
The ritual of offering oil to Shani Deva, the deity representing the planet Saturn, has its roots in both mythology and astrological tradition. One of the most popular legends appears in certain retellings of the Ramayana and later folk traditions,…
What connects a wild boar, the sun, the moon, and a dagger? These four powerful symbols formed the royal emblem of the Vijayanagara Empire, one of the most influential dynasties in South Indian history. Spanning over 300 years from the…
Dashashwamedh Ghat, one of the most prominent ghats of Varanasi, is closely tied to the city’s mythology and devotion. Its name comes from the Sanskrit words dasha (ten) and ashwamedha (horse sacrifice). According to tradition, Lord Brahma performed ten such…
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…