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Birthday Traditions | जन्मदिन की परंपराएँ Posted by Rachael on Aug 26, 2018
जन्मदिन मुबारक हो! Around the world, people celebrate birthdays with gusto, and India is no exception. Although the idea of celebrating an individual’s birthday with a party and cake is, more or less, a Western concept, as India has become more Westernized, it has also become de rigueur for children and adults alike to expect…
Crisis in Kerala, केरल में संकट Posted by Rachael on Aug 20, 2018
During the past week, as billions of people in India and across the globe celebrated India’s Independence Day on August 15th, an unsettling reality has descended on the country. The extreme flooding in the southwestern state of Kerala has gripped the nation with terror. Even those who live far from this state feel compelled to…
Idioms Continued Posted by Rachael on Jul 21, 2018
In my previous post, I discussed idioms that have to do with facial features. Despite the seeming randomness of this choice, I was taught by one of my greatest Hindi teachers that categorizing idioms and learning them as part of those categories makes it easier. And, he was right, of course! The same goes for…
Idioms with a Twist Posted by Rachael on Jul 7, 2018
Each language has its own stock of colorful and (sometimes) seemingly nonsensical idioms or, as they’re called in Hindi, मुहावरे/muhaavre (मुहावरा/muhaavra, singular). Luckily for the Hindi student, this language is teeming with vibrant turns of phrase that you can slip into almost any conversation. As some of my Hindi teachers have taught me, it is…
Current Events in Hindi Posted by Rachael on Jul 6, 2018
If you’re stuck for a way to up your Hindi game or just want to refresh your existing knowledge, reading the news in Hindi is a great way to go. BBC Hindi is just one of many websites that offers extensive and timely coverage of current events in India and abroad, all in Hindi, of course…
Indian American Cuisine (Part 2) Posted by Rachael on Jun 23, 2018
In last week’s blog, I talked about the sheer plethora of Indian restaurants in the Indian diaspora (or places outside India where Indians have immigrated and which they have transformed into Indian cultural hubs), how Indian American cuisine is different from the type of cuisine you may commonly find in India and about some appetizers…
Indian American Cuisine Posted by Rachael on Jun 16, 2018
Last week’s blog focused on how to order in a restaurant, either in India or wherever you live, as the Indian diaspora has graced countries across the globe with its delicious and varied cuisine. This week’s blog will focus on Indian American cuisine specifically or, put another way, Americanized Indian food that is popular and…