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Indian Temples Posted by kunthra on Sep 13, 2010
In every region of India, there is always a temple where worshippers may go and pray. Here are some of my favorite temples : Devipuram (देवीपुरम्) is a temple complex located in Andhra Pradesh. The temple is open to all castes, genders and religions. It is not just a place of worship. Seminars in nutrition…
Symbolic Indian Icons Posted by kunthra on Sep 10, 2010
There are special symbolic icons that are recognized and respected by Indian people. For instance, the national fruit of India is the mango. Mangos are sweet and widely used in Indian cuisine. For special occasions and celebrations, mango leaves are used to decorate the doors and halls of Indian homes. In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha (गणेश)…
Indian Dances Posted by kunthra on Sep 7, 2010
Dance is an important mechanism for a people to express themselves. Whoever thought that India is one homogenous society is wrong! There are different regions of India, and depending on the region, the dance differs as well. The Manipuri Dance comes from Manipur. Manipur is a northeastern state of India. The dances are graceful and…
Karnataka Cuisine Posted by kunthra on Sep 4, 2010
Karnataka is a southwestern state in India. Kannada is the official language and its capital city is Bangalore. Karnataka is a land rich with history and culture. The food is also great. Check out these wonderful palate pleasers. Ragi Mudde is made by making dough by mixing boiling water and flour. The dough is placed…
Krishna Janmashtami Posted by kunthra on Sep 1, 2010
Krishna Janmashtami (कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी) celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna (कृष्ण). This year the festival will be celebrated in early September. Different regions place emphasis on different activities. In Tamil Nadu, the women make rice flour drawings on the ground. The drawings are thought to bring good luck to the household. My hands are way…
Raksha Bandhan Posted by kunthra on Aug 25, 2010
This year the festival of Raksha Bandhan (रक्षाबंधन) will be held on August 24th. The festival honors the bond between brothers and sisters. A threaded bracelet called Rakhi is tied to the wrist of the brother by the sister. The threaded bracelet symbolizes the closeness between a brother and sister. It’s not certain as to…
Onam Posted by kunthra on Aug 22, 2010
Onam is a big festival in Kerala. The festival lasts for ten days and honors King Mahabali (महाबली). Mahabali is considered by the people of Kerala as a wise king. His reign is remembered for being the golden age of Kerala history. It’s believed that King Mahabli visits earth on the days the Onam is…