Alluring Amber in Poland Culture Vulture September 14, 2018September 18, 2018 Ever since Jurassic Park made it famous (the dinos were created using blood from a mosquito trapped in an ancient piece of Amber), Amber has intrigued people. Strictly speaking, it is not a stone at all but is a fossilised resin - exuded from an unnamed pine tree millions of years ago. Though Baltic ones are thought to be fossil resins from sciadopityaceae family trees that were abundant in north Europe. And as I recently learnt, from a trip to
Safeguarding indigenous horses, living heritage of India Culture Vulture Heritage July 2, 2018July 4, 2018 It is said that horse is the most sensitive and the most sensible creature of the animal world. Seeing these beautiful creatures in different stud farms of Gujarat, I was left spellbound. What was more surprising was the passion and love of the stud farm owners have for the horses. Having already attended the launch event of HorsesofIndia.com in New Delhi, I had the preliminary information of the initiative, but it was on ground zero that I felt the intensity
Create a timeless trousseau with these heritage sarees Culture Vulture Heritage June 18, 2018 Embroidery and needlework is a craft that instantly works as an identifier for a particular region or nation, whether it is the chikankari of Lucknow, zari work of Banaras or the bright and geometric Cossack stitches of the Russian region. In India, we are blessed to have a multitude of regional influences on sarees that have often given their place of origin a distinct identity. With time and the coming in of industrialisation, most of these woven pieces of art are
Bandhani – the Royal Colours of the Desert Culture Vulture Heritage April 24, 2018April 23, 2018 Bandhani, or tie-and-dye, is a craft that is popularly practised all over India. There are Bandhani centres in Gujarat, Punjab and Tamil Nadu (where the craft is known as Sungudi), but for all practical purposes, Rajasthan is most popular as the region for the best Bandhani in India. Binds of Bandhani Bandhani is a way of decorating fabric by plucking the cloth with the fingernails into many tiny bindings and dyeing the cloth after that to form motifs using the tied dots. With
Rajasthan’s Virasat Gets its Own Museum in Jaipur Culture Vulture Heritage April 21, 2018 Rajasthan is one of India's most visited states–by international as well as domestic tourists. This is not only because of the state's colourful traditions and places, but also its rich cultural heritage. One of the hidden gems of Jaipur is the not very well-known (unfortunately) and recently opened Museum of Legacies or Virasat Museum. I discovered this vast space on a recent visit to the city. With nearly 64 big and small rooms with two large halls and is four-storied on the
Matka Peer Dargah, an encounter with Sufism Culture Vulture Heritage March 29, 2018March 24, 2018 ‘The Wandering Sufis’ by Kumkum Srivastava was my first formal introduction to the world of Sufi saints (also called as Peer Baba). Before that, I always noticed dargahs while travelling in Delhi, but never went inside them, for no particular reason. But then the images of what I used to see kept intriguing me and the book increased my level of curiosity. Came majorly from Iran (also known as Persia), these Sufi saints spread the message of Allah within the Indian
Hill forts of Rajasthan: Masterpieces of Rajputana Heritage Culture Vulture Heritage March 19, 2018March 18, 2018 The land of kings, the state of Rajasthan was earlier known as Rajputana. It was divided into various regions, each ruled by a different clan. Over the years, these clans built historical monuments, especially forts on hills which shaped the rich cultural heritage of the state. Constructed between the fifth and eighteen centuries, these hill forts are longstanding masterpieces of Rajputana heritage. At the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Cambodia, six forts of Rajasthan were declared
Pattachitra: Tales of Yore on Fabric Art Culture Vulture March 10, 2018March 7, 2018 All places have different forms of expression, whether it is through art, music, plays or any other aspect that depicts their culture. These “art forms” describe the traditions of the place and distinguish them. Pattachitra is a medium that expresses Oriya and Hindu culture. Folk stories and mythological tales of Hindu culture are depicted in the form of art. The word Pattachitra comes from two Sanskrit words - “Patta”, which means “cloth”, and “Chitra” which means “picture”. This translation means “pictures
Orchha: The historical platter Culture Vulture Heritage March 3, 2018February 26, 2018 Nestled in the heart of the country, the medieval city of Orchha in Madhya Pradesh is a haven for history buffs and architecture enthusiasts. The rich historical legacy of the city is preserved in the beautiful stone sculptors and the ancient forts and buildings. Roosted 18km from Jhansi railway station and 119km from Gwalior airport, it once had the distinction of being the capital of one of the largest and most powerful kingdoms of Central India. Founded by the Rajput king
Five Holi DIY Ideas for Children Culture Vulture March 1, 2018March 2, 2018 Holi - a festival of colours and fun for all. This is a festival that is especially enjoyed by children, because there isn’t another festival that allows them to be as boisterous as Holi does. Perhaps it is the vibrant colours, perhaps it is the freedom to be able to do what they want, and how they want. The fact that there aren't many limits to the amount of time they can spend drenching each other with their pichkaris or
