Best Group Folk Dances in Indian States
Vibrant and colorful. Folk dances in Indian states are India’s identity in a way. India is a land of the…
culture
People of Kerala, Human by Nature in God’s Own Country
Nature, Culture and Simplicity of a Malayali The South Indian state of Kerala is often referred to as God’s own…
Lapland’s Tribal Culture: Reindeer & Sami
Lapland’s Culture: Reindeer & Sami
There is no other sound except crunching of snow under their feet and tinkling of sleigh bells tied around their neck. I am cozily snuggled in a wooden sled with a rug casually thrown over me. It is half past midnight with temperature dipping to around minus 20 degrees. There is a chill in the air as expected. We are passing through a snow covered forest and the reindeer are gently pulling my sleigh moving in line.
Reindeer, sleigh and snow … that’s what one expects in a Nordic region during peak winter.
Cantonese Opera in Macau
We return to the main island after our jaunts across the Taipa island, known for its glitzy brand new casinos, charming village in the quaint Coloane, the southernmost island of Macau. Of course not before tasting the mouthwatering egg-tarts and a sumptuous dinner in Miramar.
Characters in a Chinese opera wear elaborate make up
We can’t believe that
Naropa Festival 2016
Naropa & His legacy
A thousand years ago, a child was born named Naropada (Tibetan name Naropa) who grew to be an excellent scholar at Nalanda but left his materialistic world and his family to the path of enlightenment. At the age of forty he met his Guru Talopa and the next twelve years were the most introspective and spiritual learning period for him that led his attaining enlightenment.
Fully decorated Naro Palace, the venue for the Naropa Festival 2016 and also where the six bone ornaments were in public display
At this moment
A peek into Minangkabau culture
Where the men rule but women call the shots!
There can’t be a more contradictory sentence than the one above but it strikes true everytime in West Sumatra.
It was late afternoon but still bright when I stepped out of Padang Airport in West Sumatra (Sumatra Barat). A designated guide received me and we started walking toward the parking lot. By force of habit I always look back to see how things looked like. I did so this time too and I stopped!
Padang Airport based on Minangkabau architecture
In front was the beautiful
Bali Barong Dance Drama of Indonesia
Bali Barong Dance Drama in Ubud Indonesia
If I am asked to choose one dance of Bali, Ubud Indonesia, I’ll probably take more time than expected. Almost all dance forms are expressive and vie for the first spot. However, for me, Barong is probably the most prominent of all the Balinese dances. There is a great richness of styles and eloquent drama involved. This was also the first dance performance we saw.
Barong is a story telling dance narrating the fight between good and evil. This dance is a classic example of
Sand Art in Jordan
Sand art in Jordan
He puts a little sand of beige color, which acts as a background, in a small bottle and then slowly adds another colored sand. His skilled fingers are at work! He adds every new color with a thin stick or a funnel. Meticulously he ‘paints’ the parts of that color in the picture, only occasionally glancing at it.
While the silent fingers