Kalaripayattu- One of the most ancient martial art forms of India

Originating at around 3rd century BC in the Indian state of Kerala, Kalaripayattu is one of the most ancient martial art forms. It is also regarded as the “Mother of all martial arts” in the Indian sub-continent. Kalaripayattu or Kalari, has influenced several dance and theatre forms of the state of Kerala, alongside the modern…

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Which is the most linguistically diverse nation?

We often think of nations as homogeneous chunks of lands. We imagine people of Spain speaking Español and people from Germany speaking Deutsch. There is also a common misconception that the most populous countries with a variety of belief systems are more diverse in terms of languages. However, things are not the same as they…

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Portrait

Son paint my dreams as yours.
I am too tired to carry around a canvas.
Be careful not to paint the wrong pictures.

Why West African women wear Waist-beads

Ileke-Idi (Yoruba), which literally means waistband, is an accessory worn by the women of West Africa for centuries. Initially, the waist beads were a significant part of the cultural identity of the Yoruba Tribe in Nigeria. Therefore, the tribe is given credit for the popularity of this accessory in the country.   In Nigeria, mostly, the…

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Thangka: an Inseparable Part of the Tibetan Art Forms

Thangka, also referred to as tangka, thanka, or tanka is a Tibetan Buddhist style of painting often drawn on cotton and silk applique. It mostly depicts Lord Buddha or glimpses of his life, and in some cases, the Mandala art form. The word “thangka” in Classic Tibetan language means “thing that one unrolls.”

Believers of the Land of the Dead: the Idu Mishmi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh

The Mishmi or Deng minority ethnic groups residing mainly in Tibet (China) and Arunachal Pradesh (India), are formed by three main tribes: Idu Mishmi; Digaro; and Miju Mishmi. The people of the Idu Mishmi tribe are believers of Holy Spirits, who, according to them, are always present in places such as farms, houses, forests, rivers, and mountains.

Lagos from the Past

The Yorubas are one of the vast tribes in Nigeria occupying most of the southwestern part of the country including Lagos. One of the unique history of the Yorubas of Lagos is the celebration of the Eyo (also known as the Adamu Orisha play) festival to guide the soul of a dead Oba (king) or a high ranked chief and to celebrate the coronation of a new Oba.

Balut: A Popular Street Food from the Philippines

Balut, which is typically pronounced as Balot, is a popular street food in the countries like the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand. It is said that Balut was introduced to the Filipinos by the Chinese people around the year 1885, and since then, Balut has become an integral part of Filipino cuisine.

China’s Qingming Festival: A Day for Remembering the Dead

The Qingming Festival (清明) or the Tomb-Sweeping Day started some 2500 years ago during the Zhou Dynasty’s reign. Usually, the festival falls on the first day of the fifth solar term (around April 4th, 5th, or 6th) of each year, as per the Chinese Gregorian calendar.

Chinese Spring Festival: Time for Dumplings and New Year Cakes

China’s most significant festival, “Chunjie” or the “Spring Festival” dates back somewhere between 1600 and 1100 B.C, during the reigns of the Shang Dynasty. Celebrated by more than 20% of the human population, Chunjie is one of the most popular festivals in the world. Except for China, it is also celebrated in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, America, and Canada because of the sizeable Chinese population residing in these nations.

Jallikattu: A Controversial Sport from the State of Tamil Nadu

“Jallikattu,” a sport that got its name from Tamil words “Jalli,” which means gold or silver coins, and “Kattu,” which means “tying,” is one of the most popular cultural sport in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The history of this traditional sport dates back to somewhere between 400 BC to 100 BC.