india

  The Origins of Christmas The origins of Christmas go back before Christianity where  many ancient cultures celebrated the changing of the seasons. In the northern hemisphere in Europe, for example, the winter solstice, which was the shortest day of the year, occurs around Dec. 25th. These celebrations were based on the decline of winter. [...]

As the stars of their cruel little roadshows, sloth bears danced to the piercing sounds of the damru for hundreds of years. Orphaned by poachers and trained by the Qalandars, a nomadic Muslim community, these bears trudged through towns and villages to earn their masters a meager livelihood. “Kajal was the first dancing bear I [...]

In the framework of Europalia India, a string of institutions including my Alma Mater, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, hosts a series of exhibitions, performances, films showings, conferences and lectures. Last Tuesday and Wednesday, Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal was to speak in Brussels and Leuven, but he didn’t show up, being detained in a sex scandal. [...]

Hindu texts have discussed variations in gender and sexuality for over two millennia. Like the erotic sculptures on ancient Hindu temples at Khajuraho and Konarak, sacred texts in Sanskrit constitute irrefutable evidence that the whole range of sexual behavior was known to ancient Hindus. When Europeans arrived in India, they were shocked by Hinduism, which [...]

Respected Holy Father, Great hope for a positive change in the Catholic Church is pinned on the Pontificate of your Holiness and recent statements indicate that this hope may not be misplaced. The future, your Holiness said in November 2013, is in the respectful coexistence of diversity and in the fundamental right to religious freedom [...]

Indians have brains. This news has spread by now. I read about an Indian girl in a school in U.S. who complained that her American peers expected her to excel simply because she was Indian. There are statistics which show that NRIs in U.S. are doing exceptionally well, that their percentage in organizations like NASA [...]

PONDA: The demolition of ‘Ram Sethu’, a bridge of the Ramayana era, by the Union government would bring immense loss to India, the 145th Pithadeeshwar of Sree Govardhan Mutt Puri, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Nischalanand Saraswati stated. Sree Nischalanand Saraswati Maharaj was addressing a ‘Dharma sabha’, a mass religious awakening meet, at Marcaim village panchayat ground, [...]

Pakistani Debating conspiracy theories on how India and Hindus plan to destroy Pakistan Please Sign the Petition Stop hate speech inflaming tensions in the UK [...]

KABUL, Afghanistan — J.K. Sharma, a large Sikh man in a black turban, works out of a small room lined with jars and herbs in the ruined and dusty Shor Bazaar in Kabul. In a war-ravaged country where miracles are in short supply, Mr. Sharma makes a living as a magician, providing advice and talismans [...]

Tirupati: In a major development, Chittoor District Collector K Ramgopal has ordered demolition of unauthorised constructions by the controversial Heera International Islamic College, coming up near Chandragiri. The Collector in his order dated November 17 directed the Secretary of  Thondavada Grama Panchayat, under which the area where the multi-layer Islamic university is located, to immediately [...]