With the spread of Islam into India, many rulers took to building mosques. Apart from being places for worship, these mosques are a symbol of creativity, of our Islamic heritage and are known for their architectural styles. From early times, travellers from different parts of the world have been visiting India, leaving us with fascinating travel tales. But there were some, who , enamoured by the beauty and diversity of mosques in the country, captured it all on their canvas.…
The competition was tough, the prize impressive. Among the many strong contenders were influential members of the avian fraternity- the Great Indian Bustard, the Sarus crane, the Garuda and the Swan. But only one would rise above the rest and bag the top honour- the national bird status. We all know how that story ends. In 1963, the Peacock became…
He visits my town once a year. He fills my mouth with kisses and nectar. I spend all my money on him Who, girl, your man? No, a mango. -Amir Khusrau It is said, that the Gods in their infinite wisdom weighed the terrible Indian summer against a heap of mangoes, and found the balance even. Hotter the summer, sweeter…
People throughout human history have been fascinated with mountains. Their majesty fills us with wonder; for many , the mountains are religious abodes, while for others they are nature’s challenge, meant to be conquered! The Himalayas in Asia boast of some of the world’s highest peaks and consequently have attracted many explorers and expeditions over the years. Explore the Himalayas…
Some stories get handed over as batons from one generation to the next. But only rarely do we find stories which seem to belong to the wrong generation! Maulana Daud’s folk romance Laur Chanda was written in the 14th century but has all the trappings of a 21st century love story. That got us thinking, what would the story look…
On any given weekend, my head is usually occupied with the thoughts of food. The tastebuds have been working over time for a year now – ever since I started following my friend Richa’s amazing food stories. Turns out that Kings and Royalty had a thing for food too. The cookbooks of Akbar, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb give us an idea…
Guru Nanak and the Monster fish is a story that teaches us the values of Sikhism – that of having your faith and focus on God, of Hard Work, and of Sharing with others. Read on to know about this adventure that Guru Nanak, Bala and Mardana embark upon! WHAT IS IT? This illustration is a page from the manuscript…