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Russia Probes Bridge Blasts As Terror Attacks, Blames Zelensky's Team For Civilian Massacre

Russia Probes Bridge Blasts As Terror Attacks, Blames Zelensky's Team For Civilian Massacre

Time of India2 days ago

'When We're At PM Modi's Residence...': US Second Lady Usha Vance Shares India Visit Experience
US Second Lady Usha Vance shared heartwarming anecdotes from her family's visit to India during her appearance at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington, DC. From her children calling PM Narendra Modi their "grandfather" and hugging him, to their joy at eating mangoes, seeing elephants, riding auto-rickshaws and watching puppet shows, the trip left a deep impression. Usha also emphasized the warmth and generosity extended by PM Modi and described the Vance family's India visit as "the trip of a lifetime." She spoke about her son's birthday gift from PM Modi in Paris, visits to the Taj Mahal, cultural moments like Ramayana puppet shows, and her plans to visit Andhra Pradesh next. Watch to hear the full story of diplomacy, emotion, and deepening Indo-US ties.#ushavance #modimeeting #pmmodi #modikids #usindiaties #modidiplomacy #indiatriplove #tajmahalvisit #mangostory #puppetshow #toi #toibharat
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How the Kalamkari craft travelled from Srikalahasti to Thanjavur
How the Kalamkari craft travelled from Srikalahasti to Thanjavur

The Hindu

time21 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

How the Kalamkari craft travelled from Srikalahasti to Thanjavur

When people think of Kalamkari, the first words that come to their minds are Srikalahasti or Machilipattanam and not Karuppur or Thanjavur, though the art form has its roots in the latter towns too. 'Kalamkari first found royal patronage in Tamil Nadu in 1540, when Sevappa Nayak, the first Nayaka ruler of Thanjavur , brought a contingent of artists from Karuppur to adorn Thanjavur's palaces and temples ,' says Kalamkari artist Rajmohan, son of National Award-winning Kalamkari artist R. Emperumal. These artists were descendants of migrants from Andhra Pradesh, where Kalamkari originated. Also known as Chitrapadaam ('chitra' meaning picture and 'padaam', tracing), the art form was once used to depict stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. It was later used to create tapestries for palaces, temple hangings, panels for door frames, canopies, umbrella covers, door hangings and tubular hangings and even decorating temple chariots. It eventually evolved into wearable art like sarees and duppattas, and utility items such as bags and bookmarks. Touch of modernity As Rajmohan shows us the works of his ancestors, including a tapestry that is more than 400-years-old, he says, 'I recreate old pieces with a touch of modernity, yet try to keep alive the methodology adopted by my ancestors. For instance, he uses freshly-obtained paints or dyes the same day. The paints do not have a shelf life, as they are derived from nature. I do not use paints or dyes containing preservatives as they do notmatch the depth and richness that naturally-derived ones impart.' The handmade pens or kalams that he uses are crafted from bamboo and tamarind twigs. While bamboo twigs are used as it is, the tamarind ones are burnt and covered in soil overnight before use. Rajmohan's family has been practising kalamkari for more than 800 years now. A BFA graduate, who also studied filmmaking from MGR Film Institute, Rajmohan learnt the kalamkari art from his father. 'There were no formal classes, I learnt by observing him. My son also learns the same way', he says. 'The art form has been slowly fading into obscurity. When royalty was abolished in India, the patronage disappeared, and with it, the livelihood of many artists. They were given land and money, but not the means to learn another trade, and hence languished', he shares. Contibuing the family tradition Not far away from Rajmohan's residence, Lakshmi Narayanan keeps the art alive in a different way. 'This is an endangered art,' says Lakshmi Narayanan, who runs a unit with Kalamkari workers in his two-storeyed home. Narayanan, whose family has been practising the art form that obtained a GI (geographical indication) tag for more than 400 years, explains how the motifs and colours set the Karuppur style of Kalamkari apart from the Srikalahasti style. Narayanan, who began working as a Kalamkari artist at the age of 15, feels that the market remains uncertain even today as handmade items are slowly regaining appreciation from customers. 'We wait for over 20 days for profits to come our way. And if there is a small error, then we lose up to ₹ 17,000 or even ₹20,000 — that is how much a fully-worked kalamkari saree can cost' he shares. 'People who buy it need to understand the volume of work that goes into making a saree or even a dupatta. First, the design is traced using charcoal. It is then treated with a mixture of cow's milk, starched and dried. Then, we fill in the black colour, wash and dry it; the process is repeated for each colour ,' he explains. 'Black is derived from rusted iron, yellow from turmeric, and red from cinnamon,' he shares. A single saree can take 15 to 20 days, depending on the intricacy of the design. 'Sales mostly happen through word-of-mouth,' he says. 'Sometimes, boutiques approach us, but sporadically. We are the only family in this village that makes and sells Kalamkari products commercially,' he says and adds that both his sons (still studying) will eventually take up the craft. Now, with quiet persistence, both Rajmohan and Narayanan ensure that this endangered art is not forgotten. They're not just preserving a technique but a tradition that is passed on through generations.

Bengaluru: 7 Iconic Landmarks & Their Stories
Bengaluru: 7 Iconic Landmarks & Their Stories

India.com

timean hour ago

  • India.com

Bengaluru: 7 Iconic Landmarks & Their Stories

( All Image Credits: Gemini ) Anaika Sohal Jun 05, 2025 This place is known as the seat of Karnataka government and its an architectural marvel which was built in 1956. This palace is inspired by England's Windsor Castle and it was once the home to the Wodeyars and echoes tales of royalty, grandeur and gothic charm. A huge green place in the heart of the city and this 300 acre park was established in 1870. It was named after British commissioner Sir Mark Cubbon. This palace is entirely built of teakwood and is Indo-islamic palace that reflects the love for architecture, and resistance against the British. This garden was commissioned by Hyder Ali and completed by Tipu Sultan. Lalbagh features exotic plants and a glasshouse modeled after London's Crystal Palace. This is known as the one of the oldest lakes in Bengaluru and is steeped in myth and colonial history. This modern marvel of Bengaluru is considered as India's Silicon Valley and it began in the 1970s. Read Next Story

Direct train between Jammu and Srinagar will run from September: Union Minister Vaishnaw
Direct train between Jammu and Srinagar will run from September: Union Minister Vaishnaw

Hans India

timean hour ago

  • Hans India

Direct train between Jammu and Srinagar will run from September: Union Minister Vaishnaw

Jammu: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said that the direct train between Jammu and Srinagar will run in September after work on the Jammu railway station is completed. Talking to reporters today, Ashwini Vaishnaw said that work on the Jammu railway station is going on and it is expected to be completed by September. "With the availability of platforms 5 and 6, Vande Bharat trains will run between Jammu and Srinagar directly in September," he said. The Union Minister visited Jammu railway station, where he inspected the ongoing development works. His visit comes as part of the preparations for the launch of the much-awaited train service to Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to flag off two Vande Bharat trains at Katra town on Friday. The PM will visit Chenab & Anji bridges, two engineering marvels on the rail link between Katra & Srinagar, before inaugurating the Vande Bharat train service. PM Modi is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone and inaugurate several projects worth Rs 46,000 crore in Jammu and Kashmir during his visit. Meanwhile, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Chenab Bridge to oversee final preparations ahead of the inauguration of the railway bridge by the Prime Minister on Friday. Unprecedented security has been put in place ahead of the Prime Minister's visit on Friday. A multi-layered security detail, drawn from the Special Protection Group (SPG), army, CAPFs and J&K Police, will protect the historic visit of the PM. There is extraordinary vigil around PM Modi's Friday visit as this is his first visit after Operation Sindoor to J& K. The ubiquitous presence of security forces is seen in Jammu city and Reasi district, with a focus on the rail track from Katra town right up to Baramulla town in Kashmir. All vantage points along the mountainous track have been taken over by the army and other security forces, while the rail track is dotted with CAPFs equipped with electronic equipment, drones, sniffer dogs and night vision devices.

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