Barefoot at Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir
The first thing I felt at Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir was not devotion, but cold. It had snowed there a few days earlier, and ice was melting slowly all around. We left our shoes at the designated…
Meen Puyabaisse: The Pondicherry version of Bouillabaisse
I grew up in the French colony of Pondicherry which is located by the Bay of Bengal. One of the first things that grabs your attention when you reach Pondicherry is the French spelling. Our landlord was…
Bhai Dooj: The Bihar version
On the second day after Diwali, several communities in India celebrate Bhai Dooj. It is called Bhai Teeka, Bhau Beej or Bhai Phota in different states. The usual way of celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters…
My Saree Stories: Part 9 (Navratri Special)
The ninth edition of my saree stories celebrates the nine colours of Navratri. These stories have been written one day at a time for Navratri on another forum and this is a compilation. Navratri celebrates the victory…
Pola: The bullock festival
Pola is a two-day traditional festival celebrated in Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Telangana at the end of the Shravan month, which is usually in the last week of August or in the early part…
The Legends of Macau’s A-Ma Temple and Tai Ut Rock
We were in Macau and casinos didn’t interest us. So off we went to explore the heritage and history of this former Portuguese colony. One of our first stops was the A-Ma temple. Built before 1488, A-Ma…
Who is Lady Buddha?
We were caught in a downpour in Hong Kong. We took shelter under the awning of a souvenir shop outside the Po Lin Monastery. As we waited for the rain to slow down I peered at the…
The legend behind Holika Dahan
Tomorrow is Holi, the festival of colours. The whole country will be bathed in vibrant colours and the air will have a strange headiness all morning. But tonight, on the eve of Holi, we will all celebrate…
