As Ganeshotsav confronts concerns over idol height, noise and food safety, Maharashtra must find a balance between devotion and responsible celebration. Ganpati is perhaps Maharashtra’s most iconic festival, occupying a unique place in the state’s social and cultural life. For ten days, the state becomes more spiritual, more musical and, appetite-wise, more generous. But this year, three words are likely to define Ganeshotsav as much as devotion itself: height, noise and pras

Mumbai: The traditional dahi-handi celebrations – marking the birth of infant Lord Krishna – was a pacey day for Mumbai, Thane and other cities, with soaring human pyramids, beating of drums, Bollywood beats, thundering cheers with politicians and film celebs participating in the festive spirit and goading more than 1,500 Govinda ‘pathaks’ (troupes) battling for honours plus hefty cash prizes. From Thane to Ghatkopar, Andheri to Chembur, Borivali to Jogeshwari, Dadar to Mazga

People carry an idol of lord Ganesh to a 'pandal' ahead of 'Ganesh Chaturthi' festival in Mumbai on Tuesday. Mumbai: As the Aagman (welcoming) of Lord Chintamani saw a sea of humanity descend in the Lalbaug-Parel belt on Saturday, one could not escape the stamp of the Adani Group which has now become an exclusive partner of the Chinchpokli Sarvajanik Utsav mandal. Following the Ambani’s which has patronised the nearby Lalbaugcha Raja from the last few years, the move by the C

As DJs, Dolby systems and crowded mandaps return, Pune residents are pushing back against noise and traffic during the city’s biggest festival. Pune: The majority of the city’s residents have impotently opposed the use of ear-splitting DJ systems during the Ganeshotsav festival year after year. This year, citizens are voicing their opposition through various channels, while also expressing strong disapproval of festival mandaps (temporary pavilions) that obstruct traffic. M

Mumbai’s most-awaited ‘Malhar’ fest returned on August 13 drawing Gen Z into a festival of celebration and fierce competition. While the first day contained a lot of events the audience looked forward to the much-anticipated ‘Conclave Session’ that brought together voices from activism, politics, sports acting and entrepreneurship. The theme for this year was, ‘Iridescence: The Spectrum of Expression,’ a topic that describes how many individuals express, challenge and shape

Mumbai: After ending the day one with high-packed energy, the Malhar festival had more to show on the second-day. The day two of the conclave session had a star-packed line-up of Tukaram Mundhe, Divyenndu Sharma, Richa Chadha, Saina Nehwal, Imitiaz Ali and Priyanshi Sharma. But, the most awaited of them all was the Tukaram Mundhe’s session. An IAS officer who is currently the part of chatter everywhere across the state. Mundhe, the Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration

Part 3: Tribal Pride Day provides an opportunity to honour the traditions, culture and valour of India's Adivasi communities. Having examined the origins of World Indigenous Peoples' Day in Part 1 and its relevance to India in Part 2, we must now consider whether this observance has any place in the Indian context. The question is not whether indigenous peoples deserve respect and recognition—they certainly do—but whether this particular observance reflects India's historical

Part 2: The historical experiences that shaped the global indigenous movement were very different from India's own civilisational journey. Part 1 examined the origin of World Indigenous Peoples' Day and the historical circumstances that led to its recognition by the United Nations. In this part, we examine how that global framework has been interpreted in India and why it has become the subject of debate. Around the world, there are nearly 440 million indigenous peoples (Adiv

Part 1: To understand the debate surrounding World Indigenous Peoples' Day, it is essential to first understand why it was created. The tradition of celebrating festivals in India is deeply rooted in its ancient history. In independent India, festivals, anniversaries, commemorative days, and historic milestones have been categorised as religious or social, with some officially designated for observance. Over time, some of these occasions have been celebrated with excessive ze

The Sanskrit saying "Vyasocchistam Jagatsarvam" is widely quoted, yet few understand its true meaning. Here, ucchista means "that which has been contemplated, expounded upon, or touched by his wisdom." The saying affirms that there is no subject Maharshi Vyasa did not illuminate, reflecting the universality of his intellect and his enduring influence on India's intellectual and cultural heritage. It is among the highest tributes ever paid to Maharshi Vedavyasa. In the Indian

The restoration of Indonesia’s Prambanan temple signals a new phase in India’s Act East policy, with heritage conservation as an instrument of diplomacy. Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced the collaborative project of conservation and restoration of Indonesia’s 9th century Prambanan temple complex during the former’s three-day state visit to Indonesia. The said project is about putting back into shape around two hundred

From protecting Java’s fleeing Hindu-Buddhists to resisting pressures to abandon its own faith, Bali’s story is one of civilisation’s most remarkable acts of endurance. The last article in this column discussed how a tiny-dot-on-the-map Bali rose to the occasion by rescuing the endangered Javanese lives and over a millennium old Hindu-Buddhist heritage of theirs, and how it accommodated both in the manner of protecting and upholding the Dharma. While all that happened in the

Hindu Studies Centres seek to examine the tradition through indigenous knowledge systems rather than Western academic frameworks. AI generated image In many universities across the world, religion-based philosophy is taught with a critical and analytical approach. Prestigious Ivy League institutions like Harvard University have dedicated schools such as the Harvard Divinity School, where Hindu religion and philosophy are taught—often by foreign scholars. Similarly, many unive

Odissi exponent Shubhada Varadkar gets Akademi award Mumbai: Renowned Odissi virtuoso, Shubhada Varadkar has been honoured with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award – the country’s highest honour in performing arts – as an acknowledgement of her artistic excellence and a tribute to her passion for dancing. Unlike many others, Varadkar plunged into dancing relatively late - after completing her Matriculation from the Chembur High School, honouring the family’s tradition

India's traditional clothing offers more than heritage—it offers a blueprint for a sustainable and inclusive fashion future. Fashion is a universal medium of human expression, stretching far beyond mere clothing. It is a living intersection of art and culture. For India, a nation with thousands of years of rich textile history, the modern fashion journey has been both profoundly beautiful and chaotic. As a society navigating a post-colonial identity, India holds the ancestral

From sacrifice, silent endurance, and dependency to balance, respect, and partnership: the meaning of marriage has evolved. Marriage today is standing at a crossroads. Across the world, divorce rates are rising, and society often rushes to blame “modern values", “Gen Z", or "independence". But the reality is far more layered and complex. The question is not whether today’s generation lacks values. The real question is whether relationships are finally being examined more hone

May 24, 2026, could become a historic day in modern India. Nearly 1.5 lakh members of the Janjati, or indigenous tribal communities, from across the country will gather at the iconic Red Fort in New Delhi. A gathering of this scale in the national capital is unprecedented and carries a profound message. This is not a protest or agitation but a cultural assertion — an affirmation of identity, heritage, and continuity. Participants are arriving from some of India’s most remote

Strong marriages are not perfect; they are continuously nurtured. Marriage often begins with excitement, attraction, deep conversations, and effort. In the early years, even small moments — a smile, a phone call, or a walk together — feel special. But as years pass, many marriages lose that warmth. Responsibilities grow, conversations shorten, and romance becomes routine. This does not always mean love has disappeared. Often, the relationship has stopped being nurtured. Marri

Bengal has long stood as one of India’s foremost civilizational heartlands—a land of Vedic wisdom, Shakti worship, Bhakti, intellectual renaissance, revolutionary nationalism, and cultural brilliance. Yet this same sacred geography also endured successive centuries of political dislocation through Islamic invasions, colonial domination, Partition, ideological Leftism, and prolonged appeasement-driven politics. When the Sena dynasty fell in 1204 CE under the assault of Bakhtiy

The universe is made up of vibrations, vibrations generating from sound, so says, the Vedic science. Now imagine this sound in shape of lyrics. Just imagine how soothing that vibration can be. Now go one step ahead, add words to it! Pure, soft inspirational, stimulating words that goes straight to your heart. That is poetry for you. A good poetry reaches your heart before it reaches your brain. That is the way of life; we all strive for consciously or subconsciously. In earli