Discover India’s cow and bull in History and Mythology and it’s use in traditional Indian medicine. Explore the varied meanings of the Sanskrit word Go गो … INDIA: On cow and bull in History & Mythology
Tag: Hinduism
INDIA: Mythology and Diwali rituals of Narakasur in Goa
Narak Chaturdasi is celebrated for Diwali in Goa. Huge effigies of Narkasur, made of grass and hay, dressed in colorful paper clothes and armed with swords and other armaments, are erected in the days preceding Diwali. Narkasur is paraded in the neighborhood accompanied by drums and songs. After dawn with taunts and insults, Narkasur is beheaded and cremated. Discover Mythology and Diwali rituals of Narakasur in Goa.
… INDIA: Mythology and Diwali rituals of Narakasur in Goa
INDIA | GOA: Mythology, rituals and history of Ganesh Chaturthi
Traveling and discovering is sometimes about being in the right place on the right day, for us that day was today, when India celebrates Ganesha Chaturthi. This festival is also popularly called Vinayaka Cavithi or Vinayaka Chaturthi. It’s celebrated in honor of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, remover of obstacles, the god of beginnings and wisdom. Discover Mythology, rituals and history of Ganesh Chaturthi in India.
… INDIA | GOA: Mythology, rituals and history of Ganesh Chaturthi
INDIA | Himachal Pradesh: Mool Mahunag Annual fair of Karsog
Discover Myths and Legends of the Mool Mahunag Annual fair of Karsog, where devotees pray, play music, carry the murtis (god statues) and feast.
… INDIA | Himachal Pradesh: Mool Mahunag Annual fair of Karsog
INDIA: Thaipusam – Lord Murugan festival at Palani
Discover Myths and Legends of the Thaipusam – Lord Murugan festival at Palani, where devotees pray, carry the kavadi and dance at the festival.
… INDIA: Thaipusam – Lord Murugan festival at Palani
INDIA: Gotipua folk dance tradition from Odisha
The Gotipua folk dance tradition from Odisha is practiced in the heritage village of Raghurajpur on the banks of the river Bhargabi. Here young dancers are trained from the age of five to sing and dance to praise Lord Jagannath and tell the story of Radha and Krishna.
… INDIA: Gotipua folk dance tradition from Odisha
INDIA: History, myth and folklore of Rasgulla in Odisha
Rasagola, or rasgulla, as many call it, is a traditional sweet from east India; Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The main ingredient is Chena – cottage cheese, obtained by heat and acid coagulation of milk and cooked and caramelized in sugar juice. Discover history, myth and folklore of Rasgulla in Odisha, India.
INDIA : TREELORE – Bodh Gaya where Buddha sat for enlightenment under the Maha Bodhi Tree
The Maha Bodhi Tree, world’s most famous pilgrim tree, marks the location where the Buddha attained enlightenment, and is the destination for the Buddhism’s pilgrimage. Discover Myths and Legends of the ancient sacred fig tree at the Maha Bodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya where Buddha sat for enlightenment under the Maha Bodhi Tree.
… INDIA : TREELORE – Bodh Gaya where Buddha sat for enlightenment under the Maha Bodhi Tree
INDIA: Kanwar Yatra – History and Mythology of the pilgrimage of Lord Shiva’s Kanwariyas
In the month of Shravan, cities and towns of the Gangetic plains are inundated with people, dressed in orange, bearing saffron flags, marching to loud music, and carrying a stick sling with pots or bottles tied to either end. They are fetching Ganga water and bringing to the local Shiva temple, a ritual that marks the end of summer and beginning of monsoon. They are the Kanwariyas. Discover the Kanwar Yatra – Mythology of the pilgrimage of Lord Shiva’s Kanwariyas.
… INDIA: Kanwar Yatra – History and Mythology of the pilgrimage of Lord Shiva’s Kanwariyas
INDIA | Uttarakhand : Harela or day of green – Festival of the Kumaoni people
Harela is celebrated for welcoming the rainy season, the new harvest and to commemorate the wedding anniversary of goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Discover Myth and Folklore of Harela or the day of green – Festival of the Kumaoni people of Uttarakhand.
… INDIA | Uttarakhand : Harela or day of green – Festival of the Kumaoni people
INDONESIA: Bali Kite Festival – History, Myth & Folklore of the kites in Bali
Kites have their own place in History, Myth & Folklore of Bali. Especially during the Bali Kite Festival the people show their art of flying kites- Layangan.
… INDONESIA: Bali Kite Festival – History, Myth & Folklore of the kites in Bali
INDIA: Mythology of the Ganges river or Mother Ganga
The river Ganges meanders through various northern and eastern states of India, streams through Bangladesh, and vanishes into the Bay of Bengal. Ganga is a river and a goddess indivisible from each other. Her water has the power to cleanse — as most Hindus believe — every kind of sin. Bathing in Ganga liberates the soul as does dying in it reaffirming the Hindu notion of Moksha – salvation. Discover the Mythology of the Ganges river or Mother Ganga.
… INDIA: Mythology of the Ganges river or Mother Ganga
INDIA: Padmavati and the siege of Chittorgarh
Discover Myth and Folklore of the beauty Padmavati, the siege of Chittorgarh and human sacrifices – Jauhar and Shaka done by the Rajputs in war time.
… INDIA: Padmavati and the siege of Chittorgarh
NEPAL: Lumbini Buddhas birthplace
Discover Myths and Legends of Lumbini Buddhas birthplace, the birth story of Gotama Buddha and Lumbini in historical travel accounts. Lumbini is a Pilgrims nirvana.
… NEPAL: Lumbini Buddhas birthplace
INDIA | NEPAL: There be Unicorns – Myth & Folklore of the One – horned rhinoceros
At Bardia National Park in Nepal, a lone rhino swishes out the elephant grass. We stand very near, quite at the riverbank peering behind tall grass, hearing – observing – now it is slowly reaching the water, peacefully munching. Floating happily into the river. Discover Myth & Folklore of the One-horned rhinoceros also known as the Indian Rhinoceros.
… INDIA | NEPAL: There be Unicorns – Myth & Folklore of the One – horned rhinoceros
NEPAL: Myth and Folklore of the Yeti
Across the Himalayas the yeti is known by many names and was seen as real, familiar for generations in a half-dozen countries from Tibet to Pakistan. A region flush with wildlife, where tigers, bears and wild dogs roamed thick mountain forests, icy mountaintops and remote river valleys. Here, if nowhere else, the yeti was simply one more creature. Discover Myth and Folklore of the Yeti.
… NEPAL: Myth and Folklore of the Yeti
SRI LANKA: Myth and Folklore of Buddhas Tooth Relic and the Kandy Esala Perahera Festival
Discover Myth and Folklore of Buddhas Tooth Relic and the Kandy Esala Perahera Festival
… SRI LANKA: Myth and Folklore of Buddhas Tooth Relic and the Kandy Esala Perahera Festival
INDIA: Thaipusam – Tamil Nadu’s Lord Murugan festival
Kumara, enthusiastically comes into the house and says: ”Take camera, come, come”, I had no idea what to expect and run out into the scorching sun. We escaped the heat of the dry season to Valparai, deep into the Western Ghats, mountains, of Tamil Nadu. Discovering it was Thaipusam – Tamil Nadu’s Lord Murugan festival.
INDIA: Myths, folklore and taboos of Malana
Malana, is an isolated village of Himachal Pradesh, having their own parliament and constitution. The people of the village don’t consider themselves to be Indians, but Aryans so special you can not even touch them or their belongings. And they grow marijuana – it is everywhere. Discover Myths, folklore and taboos of Malana.
INDIA: On the Coconut palm
Discover legends, myths and folklore of the coconut palm tree and its use in traditional Indian culture.
Oral literature abounds with proverbs, fables, myths, and legends associated with this special nut and have been associated with the origin of the plant in India, Malaysia, Hawaii, Myanmar, Maldives, Philippines, Indonesia, and Polynesian countries.
… INDIA: On the Coconut palm
INDIA: Annapurna – The kitchen goddess
While doing a Panchakarma in Kerala, India I witnessed how Annapurṇa – The kitchen goddess, got a temple in the new kitchen, this ritual is called kumbhabhishekam.
INDONESIA: Legends of the Herons, or Kokokan birds in Petulu Gunung, Bali
The Legends of the Herons, or Kokokan birds in Petulu Gunung, Bali is well known and they are an impressive spectacle as they fly every evening into the trees of the village to sleep and feed their offspring. For many visitors to Bali, the unofficial story behind the Petulu herons is one of the first hints that there’s more to the people and culture than would appear in the smiling faces and brightly coloured ceremonial clothes.
… INDONESIA: Legends of the Herons, or Kokokan birds in Petulu Gunung, Bali
STORYTELLING BALI: Made Taro&Gede Tarmada
Storytelling in Bali is an age old tradition, and an ancient art. It symbolizes the living tradition of storytelling that deeply explains and entertains, morally educates and brings communities together. In Balinese culture- art, ritual, and performance overlap in various ways, stories are continually told and retold.
INDIA: On the Frangipani – Plumeria
Discover legends and folklore of the Frangipani – Plumeria in India, and its use in traditional Indian culture.
INDIA: On the Banana
Discover legends, myths and folklore of the banana tree in India- its use in traditional Indian culture.