Latest news with #Subba
Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Sara Ali Khan seeks blessings at Guwahati's Kamakhya Temple: Expert explores the power of Tantra and divine feminine energy of this sacred site
Sara Ali Khan is currently on a spiritual journey across India. After recently visiting the Chandramouleshwara Temple in Karnataka, she travelled to Guwahati to seek blessings at the Kamakhya Temple — one of the most revered and powerful Shakti Peethas in the country. Known for its deep association with Tantra and the feminine divine, the temple is often visited by devotees seeking spiritual insight, healing, and transformation. Sharing glimpses of her visit on social media, Sara posted photos in a white chikankari salwar kurta, pausing to take in the serenity of the temple. She captioned her post with a poem: 'Moments of stillness amidst the perpetual flow. A purposeful reminder to breathe and go slow. Listen to the whispers of the river, feel the suns glow. Wander deep, embrace life and allow yourself to grow.' Many associate Kamakhya with devotion, but not much is known about the temple's tantric significance, its cultural heritage, and its role in spiritual practices that go beyond mainstream rituals. History and significance of this temple Saru Subba, historian and founder Carol School Guwahati, tells 'The Kamakhya Temple has an ancient and layered history, dating back to at least the early centuries of the Common Era, though its origins are believed to be even older. It has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times — most notably in the 16th century under the Koch king Naranarayana, which gives the current structure its blend of ancient and medieval architecture.' It is considered one of the most important Shakti Peethas, he adds, where the yoni of Goddess Sati is said to have fallen, marking it as a sacred site for worshipping the goddess in her most elemental form. 'Its significance goes beyond the spiritual; it was also a center of Tantric learning and practice, attracting mystics and scholars from across the subcontinent,' notes Subba. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kamakhya temple (@kamakhyamandir) Even today, he states that Kamakhya retains a unique position in Indian sacred geography — respected 'both as a pilgrimage site and as a place that preserves spiritual traditions that are often overlooked or misunderstood. Its rituals, festivals like Ambubachi Mela, and deep symbolism continue to inspire reverence and curiosity alike.' What makes the Kamakhya Temple unique compared to other Shakti temples in India? The Kamakhya Temple stands out among Shakti temples for its deep-rooted connection to the Tantric tradition. Subba explains, 'While many Shakti temples focus on divine femininity in nurturing or warrior forms, Kamakhya embraces the raw, unfiltered aspects of the feminine — creation, power, fertility, and transformation. What makes it truly unique is that the temple does not house an idol in the conventional sense. Instead, the yoni or womb-shaped stone, constantly bathed in natural spring water, is venerated.' He continues, 'This symbolism speaks directly to Tantric philosophy, which celebrates the union of the physical and the spiritual, the seen and the unseen. Tantra at Kamakhya is not about rituals misunderstood as occultism, but rather about transcending duality, embracing wholeness, and recognising the sacred in all aspects of life, including those often considered taboo.' How do temples like Kamakhya encourage spiritual seekers to embrace practices like stillness, surrender, and self-reflection? Temples like Kamakhya often exist on the thresholds — between the material and the spiritual, the known and the mystical. 'For seekers, this sacred ambiguity becomes a space for inward reflection. Kamakhya, perched atop the Nilachal hills and steeped in silence, naturally evokes a sense of stillness. Visitors often speak of an atmosphere that encourages quietude rather than display, where the inner journey feels just as important as the outer one,' highlights Subba. The temple's embrace of Tantra, with its emphasis on acceptance and inner exploration, supports a path of surrender — not as defeat but as trust in the unknown. Subba mentions, 'Self-reflection is intrinsic here; the symbolism, the rituals, and even the temple architecture are designed to turn one's gaze inward.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
14-03-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Nepal Community Efforts Revive Red Panda Population
Nepali police officer Jiwan Subba still feels pangs of regret decades after he bludgeoned a strange creature he found wandering in his barn, not realizing it was an endangered red panda. Red pandas may share a similar name to giant pandas -- due to their bamboo diet -- but the copper-hued mammals with raccoon-like features are much smaller, typically the size of a house cat. "I was 17 and had no idea what it was. Nobody in our village even knew," Subba, now 48, told AFP. Today, he is not only aware of the red panda's vulnerability but is actively involved in its protection -- reflecting a broader shift in attitudes spurred by Nepal's extensive community awareness programs. "I once took a life out of ignorance, but now I work to prevent others from making the same mistake," he said. "People now understand that red pandas are a protected species." Officials say that Nepal's pioneering community-based conservation work has helped arrest the decline of the cute but skittish bamboo-eaters, which number fewer than 10,000 globally. Red Panda Network, an organization leading global efforts to conserve the animal, estimates between 500 and 1,000 of the species live in Nepal. That is an almost certain increase from an estimated population of somewhere between 300 and 600 by the Himalayan republic's wildlife department in 2011. "Now, villagers say they can see three or four red pandas on the same day," Red Panda Network's Ang Phuri Sherpa told AFP. - 'Undisturbed' - Conservationists say that educational outreach combined with sustainable livelihood programs has helped improve the effectiveness of Nepal's conservation efforts. In eastern Nepal, Indigenous inhabitants of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area switched from raising livestock to cultivating nettle plants to minimize disturbances to red panda habitats. "We have stopped foraging in the forest so red pandas remain undisturbed," said Chandra Kumari Limbu, a local working on conservation efforts. Instead, the rhythmic clap of looms now fills the village from women weaving nettle fabric into school bags, wallets and clothing. "This has empowered women here who did not have an income before. And at the same time we are letting red pandas thrive," Limbu told AFP. Nepal last year also declared a new conservation zone in the country's east to protect red pandas. The Puwamajhuwa Community Red Panda Conservation Area, spanning 116 hectares (287 acres), has dedicated anti-poaching and smuggling control committees with local involvement. - Poaching and infrastructure - Nepali authorities have confiscated 33 red panda hides from smugglers in the past five years, a drop from 70 hides from 2011-15. "The number of red panda hides being smuggled has significantly come down, mainly due to weaker smuggling networks and lower profits," police spokesperson Dinesh Kumar Acharya told AFP. Nepal has strict punishments for poachers of protected species, including prison sentences of up to 10 years. Conservationists warn however that many poaching incidents go undetected or unpunished. Red panda hides are mainly smuggled to China and Myanmar for their supposed medicinal qualities and aesthetic value, according to police. Their copper-colored fur, cherubic appearance and small size also make them easy candidates for the exotic pet trade. According to an assessment from the International Union for Conservation for Nature (IUCN), interest in red pandas as pets may have grown partly because of the preponderance of "cute" images of the animals shared on social media. The IUCN has listed the mammal as an endangered species since 2016 and says they face high risk of extinction due to habitat loss. Sherpa of the Red Panda Network said growing infrastructure development in Nepal was posing further challenges for conservation efforts. "Road networks, hydroelectricity, transmission lines and cable car construction is going on, and because of these, habitats have been fragmented," he said. Residents in Taplejung district, a key red panda habitat, are currently protesting the mass felling of thousands of trees for a new cable car project aimed at promoting tourism in the area. "The government should take extra cautious measures when constructing large infrastructure projects," local conservationist Rajindra Mahat told AFP. "It is an endangered species worldwide, so it is our shared responsibility to protect it."
Japan Times
14-03-2025
- General
- Japan Times
Nepal community efforts revive red panda population
Taplejung, Nepal – Nepali police officer Jiwan Subba still feels pangs of regret decades after he bludgeoned a strange creature he found wandering in his barn, not realizing it was an endangered red panda. Red pandas may share a similar name to giant pandas — due to their bamboo diet — but the copper-hued mammals with raccoon-like features are much smaller, typically the size of a house cat. "I was 17 and had no idea what it was. Nobody in our village even knew," Subba, now 48, said. Today, he is not only aware of the red panda's vulnerability, but is actively involved in its protection — reflecting a broader shift in attitudes spurred by Nepal's extensive community awareness programs. "I once took a life out of ignorance, but now I work to prevent others from making the same mistake," he said. "People now understand that red pandas are a protected species." Officials say that Nepal's pioneering community-based conservation work has helped arrest the decline of the cute but skittish bamboo-eaters, which number fewer than 10,000 globally. Red Panda Network, an organization leading global efforts to conserve the animal, estimates between 500 and 1,000 of the species live in Nepal. That is an almost certain increase from an estimated population of somewhere between 300 and 600 by the Himalayan republic's wildlife department in 2011. "Now, villagers say they can see three or four red pandas on the same day," Red Panda Network's Ang Phuri Sherpa said. 'Undisturbed' Conservationists say that educational outreach combined with sustainable livelihood programs has helped improve the effectiveness of Nepal's conservation efforts. In eastern Nepal, Indigenous inhabitants of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area switched from raising livestock to cultivating nettle plants to minimize disturbances to red panda habitats. Officials say that with Nepal pioneering community-based conservation, the global population of red pandas is increasing within the country. | AFP-Jiji "We have stopped foraging in the forest so red pandas remain undisturbed," said Chandra Kumari Limbu, a local working on conservation efforts. Instead, the rhythmic clap of looms now fills the village from women weaving nettle fabric into school bags, wallets and clothing. "This has empowered women here who did not have an income before. And at the same time, we are letting red pandas thrive," Limbu said. Nepal last year also declared a new conservation zone in the country's east to protect red pandas. The Puwamajhuwa Community Red Panda Conservation Area, spanning 116 hectares, has dedicated antipoaching and smuggling control committees with local involvement. Poaching and infrastructure Nepali authorities have confiscated 33 red panda hides from smugglers in the past five years, a drop from 70 hides from 2011-15. "The number of red panda hides being smuggled has significantly come down, mainly due to weaker smuggling networks and lower profits," police spokesperson Dinesh Kumar Acharya said. Nepal has strict punishments for poachers of protected species, including prison sentences of up to 10 years. Conservationists warn, however, that many poaching incidents go undetected or unpunished. Red panda hides are mainly smuggled to China and Myanmar for their supposed medicinal qualities and aesthetic value, according to police. Their copper-colored fur, cherubic appearance and small size also make them easy candidates for the exotic pet trade. According to an assessment from the International Union for Conservation for Nature (IUCN), interest in red pandas as pets may have grown partly because of the preponderance of "cute" images of the animals shared on social media. The IUCN has listed the mammal as an endangered species since 2016 and says they face high risk of extinction due to habitat loss. Sherpa of the Red Panda Network said growing infrastructure development in Nepal was posing further challenges for conservation efforts. "Road networks, hydroelectricity, transmission lines and cable car construction is going on, and because of these, habitats have been fragmented," he said. Residents in the Taplejung district, a key red panda habitat, are currently protesting the mass felling of thousands of trees for a new cable car project aimed at promoting tourism in the area. "The government should take extra cautious measures when constructing large infrastructure projects," local conservationist Rajindra Mahat said. "It is an endangered species worldwide, so it is our shared responsibility to protect it."
