Thrissur Pooram is Kerala’s spectacular annual festival, bringing together music, decorated elephants, colourful umbrellas, fireworks and massive crowds. Rooted in a 1798 tradition created by Sakthan Thampuran, it is both cultural pride and personal emotion for Thrissur residents. The author celebrates its grandeur while urging safer crowds and greater compassion for elephants.
Ganesh Chaturthi has a deep connection with nature. Traditionally, idols were made from shadu clay and natural dyes. Today, eco-friendly celebrations promote clay idols, natural colours and smaller sizes that dissolve easily. Plantation drives, cleanliness campaigns and water conservation initiatives further reinforce the festival’s message of respecting and protecting the environment.
Vishwakarma Puja evolves from childhood memories of factory visits, decorated bicycles, hot khichdi and simple celebrations into a deeper reflection on work, gratitude and changing traditions. Through a doctor’s eyes, the festival also reveals the dangers of reckless celebration. Ultimately, the author longs for simpler festivities where memories, connection and feeling matter more than grandeur.
The festive season doesn’t have to derail your fitness. Skip the perfectionism and toxic detoxes: keep moving, prioritise protein and vegetables, enjoy the treats you genuinely love, avoid mindless grazing and leftover traps, and don’t panic over temporary post-festival weight gain. Celebrate freely, return to your routine, and let fitness fit into real life.
This deeply personal story challenges India’s colourism by highlighting the contradiction of worshipping dark-skinned Krishna and Jagannath while judging dark-skinned children. Through her daughter Megha’s experiences, the author reflects on inherited prejudice, motherhood, and self-acceptance, ultimately celebrating the beauty, confidence, and divinity of embracing one’s natural complexion.
Festive food is never just about eating – it carries memories, traditions, emotions, family, and the warmth of celebrations. The leftovers become a delicious reminder of moments shared with loved ones. Rather than feeling guilty about indulging, the piece encourages us to savour these little pleasures and hold onto the festival just a little longer.
The story chronicles a family’s terrifying battle with their mother’s cancer, from the despair surrounding a high-risk surgery to an unexpected encounter that led them to Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple. Their prayers became a source of strength and faith. Six years later, their mother thrives, transforming fear into gratitude, devotion, resilience, and grace
The Bengali tape-jama was more than a child’s summer dress – it was a beautifully practical expression of Bengal’s climate, culture and childhood. Made from breathable cotton and often adorned with delicate embroidery, it embodied comfort and simplicity. Its decline reflects changing aspirations and fashion, raising a poignant question: in embracing novelty, have we forgotten the wisdom of simplicity?
On a foggy Assamese winter morning, Pehi brings together two unlikely companions – bold, spicy duck and gentle, sweet ash gourd. Their playful banter unfolds as they simmer into a perfect curry, revealing a delightful metaphor for relationships: opposites need not compete; with patience, softness and balance, they can blend beautifully and bring out the best in each other.
The piece explores how modern communication often suffers from a lack of genuine listening. True communication requires more than speaking—it demands empathy, curiosity, patience and attention to both words and unspoken emotions. Whether within families or between citizens and governments, listening without judgement creates understanding, trust and healthier relationships.
