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: Shiva/ Siwa
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: 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: 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
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.
INDIA: On the Banana
Discover legends, myths and folklore of the banana tree in India- its use in traditional Indian culture.
… INDIA: On the Banana
INDIA: On the Bodhi Tree
Discover legend, myth and folklore of the Bodhi tree in India and its use in Indian culture.
INDONESIA: Traditional Tajen- Cockfighting in Bali
Indonesia, like many other nations, has banned cock fighting as a cruel sport, although traditional Tajen- Cockfighting in Bali is still allowed for ceremonial purposes. The term bali refers to blood offerings and/or animal sacrifice. These fighting birds are as much a part of Balinese Hindu rites as the burning of incense and giving offerings to the gods.
INDONESIA: On animal sacrifices in Bali and the mythological origins
Animal sacrifices in Bali and the mythological origins source from the records in palm-leaf and Hindu literature. Animal sacrifice or bali in Sanskrit, has turned up in almost all cultures.
… INDONESIA: On animal sacrifices in Bali and the mythological origins
INDIA: On the Banyan Tree
Discover legends, myths and folklore of the Banyan tree in India and its use in traditional Indian culture.
INDIA: FOLK TALES ON RICE
RICE IN INDIAN FOLK TALES
There’s more to rice than you think- Discover rice in Indian folk tales. India has a long and varied history, and its people are of most diverse origin and of different religious traditions. As might be expected, the folklore of India reflects this diversity of history and population. Several literary and religious collections of tales have been popular among the population for centuries.
INDIA: Myths, History and Folklore of RICE
There are many myths, legends and much folklore about rice. Gods or goddesses gave rice to humans and taught them how to grow it. In Asia, the rice spirit is female and often a mother figure. Religious use of rice takes place in China, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. Discover Myths, History and Folklore of RICE in India. … INDIA: Myths, History and Folklore of RICE
The MOTHER GODDESS OF FERTILITY AND RICE
There are many myths, legends and much folklore about the mother goddess of fertility and rice. The ancient Indus community, perceived the Divine Female as Mother Goddess or Devi. Goddesses like Lakshmi, Gauri and Saraswati gave rice to Indians and taught them how to grow it. It was the practice of personifying the beauty and bounty of earth as a goddess and it was prevalent in ancient cultures. … The MOTHER GODDESS OF FERTILITY AND RICE