Misal makes it to TasteAtlas' ‘50 Best Breakfasts' list; chole bhature and paratha follow close behind
Kabirdas Jayanti, or Kabir Prakat Diwas, marks the birth anniversary of the revered mystic poet and social reformer Kabir Das. This sacred occasion is observed on Jyeshtha Purnima, the full moon day of the Jyeshtha month according to the Hindu lunar calendar. It commemorates the life, teachings, and literary legacy of Sant Kabir, whose message of unity and compassion transcended the boundaries of religion and caste.
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Time of India
7 minutes ago
- Time of India
The power of smidgen Sindoor
Sindoor is amorphous! When a married woman scales it from the top of the forehead to the middle of the skull along the tiny hair parting, it becomes a valley; flowing through it an impassioned route to feminity, the boat of marriage thus sailing by keeping the oar intact on its gunwale. Sindoor is applied by Hindu women, a de rigueur. Some apply it every day; a long stretch through the parting till the inseparable red pores start fading, and some do away with a shorter length. Many hardly wear it now; one could owe this to the hard-nosed imprecation of marriage, why then the need to sprinkle the perfumed garden? Husband is now the squall who sputters; 'Sindoor' thus becomes an 'objet d' art, magnifying its exuberance during festivities like Karvachauth where married women therapeutically indulge in their own 'Sindoor craftsmanship'. And not to forget the Hindu Bengali women who smear each other with Sindoor during 'Sindoor Khela' or Vijayadashmi. What is it that makes 'Sindoor' pervasive? Is it devotion to the husband or is it a celebration womanhood, or is in fact a blissful sanity accorded by cultural consanguinity? The ill-disposed are quick to respond, 'Why the dividing line of the hair is empty'? The old-rickety women who have nurtured 'Sindoor' like the strict lines on the palm offer no remorse and often nudge, 'it is a sign of prosperity, applying the red vermillion makes marriage a solid rock without any cervices.' I am reminded of my friend who during 'Chhath Puja' had the red river flowing from the forehead to the bridge of the nose; crimson sprinkled to form an arabesque singing the union of a woman with her belief to love unconditionally. 'Goddess Durga' doesn't leave my impressionistic eye either. The stark red vermillion on her forehead impinges an opalescent hubris. Look at the strength it evokes if stirring up a gaff and the chiseled idol scaled to characterize the red radiance. Aishwarya Rai, Miss World 1994 and a popular celebrity at the Cannes Film Festival, did the anomaly; rather it turned out to be exquisite. She appeared like a carnivalesque of a woman in a spiritual palimpsest of a 'white sari', an essence of peace and contemporaneously crowned by a fierce bold 'red sindoor' attitudinizing conjugality, a coup de maître! Will she wear it the next day? Hard to say! 'Sindoor' has become more of an appurtenance rather than a sine qua non for everyday deck-up. The shift has been imperceptible. The affluttered mother-in-laws' have become quiet as the new age daughter-in-laws' are now adroit to handle their 'sindoor synapse'; the husbands now wonder if the red streak of love planted on the forehead has irreverently unclaimed them? It's not that I have never applied it; yes, I have! And I have to admit it made me look different but nothing to do with who I am. It's been years now and it is asynchronous in my married life; its significance arbitrary along the scrofula surrounding the marriage masochism. However, there comes an accession which has made 'sindoor' anthropomorphic. It was wiped off brutally by the terrorist during the Pahalgam terror attack in 2025, and Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi did not accept the dark in whisper. The 'red' in 'Operation Sindoor' reflects the incandescent tempest that is ready to strike the malfeasance of the perpetrators who left many women as widows with their virtuous sindoor burnt forever. Can 'sindoor' ever be left bleeding? The power of it came down heavily on the miscreants, and 'Operation Sindoor' swallowed the currents of anachronistic hatred. 'Sindoor', with its adventurous spirit will always remain the soi-distant essence of a Hindu woman. Things have definitely changed, one hardly sees married women applying it fervently, and however, it still defines the indomitable spirit to create a crease of one's belonging and coveting the idea of inseparability. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Tirupati: 12-hours nonstop Upanishad discourse enters Intl wonder book of records
Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), June 11 (UNI) A 12-hour uninterrupted discourse on the messages of the Upanishads held at Annamacharya Kalamandiram, here on Wednesday, entered the International wonder book of records. The event was organised by the National Gita Propagation Committee in association with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the largest Hindu spiritual institute in the world and Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad. Ponna Krishnamurthy, Program Assistant of HDPP and a noted scholar, delivered the commentary from 7 AM to 7 PM without a break. His achievement was recognised by the International Wonder Book of Records, London. The discourse covered key teachings from Taittiriya, Mandukya, Prashna, Kena, Aitareya, and Katha Upanishads. Prominent attendees included representatives from the National Gita Committee, Vice-Chancellors of SV Vedic University and National Sanskrit University, saints from Sri Ramakrishna Math and Lalita Peetham, among others. UNI KNR RN
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Tirumala's Divine Audit: The Spiritual Significance Of Hundi, Koluvu Rituals
Last Updated: At Tirumala, the hundi is opened and counted daily in a ritual called Koluvu Seva, symbolizing Lord Venkateswara's debt repayment to Kubera, emphasizing divine accountability. In most temples across India, offerings placed in the hundi (donation box) are counted weekly or monthly. But at Tirumala, the sacred abode of Lord Venkateswara, a divine practice of daily accountability sets this temple apart — the hundi is opened and counted every single day, in a spiritually significant ritual known as Koluvu Seva. This unique practice is not merely a matter of temple administration; it reflects a deeper spiritual philosophy of governance, responsibility, and divine transparency. The Myth Behind the Ritual: The Debt to Kubera As per ancient Hindu mythology, Lord Venkateswara borrowed 14 lakh Rammudra coins from Kubera, the god of wealth, to fund his celestial wedding with Goddess Padmavati. The divine transaction was witnessed by Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva. The Lord promised to repay this loan himself — a vow that is believed to continue even today, through the offerings of his devotees. Each day, the presentation of the hundi income is treated as a symbolic repayment of this sacred debt. This daily act is a reminder of the value of keeping one's word, the sanctity of commitments, and the importance of financial and spiritual integrity. Koluvu Seva: The Ritual of Divine Accountability Performed every morning following the main Suprabhata Seva, the Koluvu Seva is held at the Koluvu Mantapam, near the Bangaru Vakili (Golden Entrance) inside the sanctum complex. In this ritual, Lord Venkateswara is revered as Kubera Srinivasa, seated like a king overseeing the temple's operations. The Panchangam (Hindu almanac) for the day is first recited. Then, priests present a detailed report of the previous day's hundi income, temple expenses, and offerings made by devotees. Significantly, this information is not submitted to human administrators but offered directly to the deity — in a format reminiscent of a royal court briefing. The Koluvu Seva is not open to the public, but it remains one of the most spiritually symbolic daily services, blending devotion with governance. Hundi: A Sacred Channel of Devotion and Dharma Known as the Srivari Hundi or Srivari Koppera, this donation box is more than just a collection vessel — it represents a sacred channel for the devotees' faith, gratitude, vows, and sacrifices. Many devotees observe vows such as 'Niluvu Dopidi", wherein they donate all their possessions — money, jewellery, or gold — as an act of surrender or in fulfillment of a prayer. Offerings range from coins and currency to gold, silver, and other valuables. On average, the Tirumala temple collects between Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore in donations every day, with 12 to 14 hundis being filled daily. This reflects not only the unwavering devotion of millions but also the temple's commitment to meticulous, transparent financial management. A Model of Sacred Governance The Koluvu ritual is a rare and profound example of spiritual governance — where divine accountability is practiced as a daily ritual. By symbolically presenting the temple's income to Kubera each day, Tirumala sends a powerful message: devotion must be accompanied by discipline, transparency, and integrity. In a world often detached from ethical accountability, Tirumala's daily divine audit serves as a timeless lesson in responsibility — to God, to society, and to one's own conscience. First Published: June 11, 2025, 22:07 IST
