Explained Culture

EXPLAINED CULTURE NEWS

Why Bad Bunny's Grammy win made history and stirred up politics

February 05, 2026 11:28 am

This is not the first time Bad Bunny has taken a political stand, and not the first time that has put him on the wrong side of the White House. We explain.

Budget proposes to develop 15 archaeological sites: Check out the list and what it entails

February 04, 2026 9:31 am

We look at the sites that are proposed to be included in the scheme, what it entails, and how this takes off from an announcement in the 2020-21 Budget.

Explained: The 200-year dispute between two Iyengar sects, now in top court  — who prays first?

January 30, 2026 2:35 pm

The two sects of Sri Vaishnavas in Tamil Nadu follow the same philosopher and worship the same deity. But both have long feuded over the prayers offered at the Sri Devarajaswamy Temple in Kanchipuram.

German musicologist among Padma Shri winners: Who is Lars-Christian Koch?

January 29, 2026 6:48 pm

Koch’s decades of scholarly engagement helped distinguish Indian music as a significant field of study in global ethnomusicology, which is the study of music and its interplay with broader culture.

Why French loan of Bayeux Tapestry to England has proven contentious despite shared history

January 28, 2026 4:39 pm

The Bayeux Tapestry is an 11th-century linen work that documents the events culminating in William the Conqueror’s ascension to the English throne in 1066. This event is significant in both British and French histories

Why the 2016 trend is less about the past — and more about the anxieties of the present

January 22, 2026 2:06 pm

2016 was an inflection point, yet retained a sense of optimism. The language of 'guardrails' had not yet become a euphemism for their failure. This is why the nostalgia for that year is more than just sentimental

Wikipedia at 25: Of collective knowledge and fault lines deepened by AI

January 15, 2026 8:13 pm

Besides long being the go-to for research, Wikipedia peppers everyday routines — settling dinner‑table disputes, guiding sports commentary or sending readers down late‑night rabbit holes.

Railways discontinues 'colonial uniform': Evolution of the bandhgala, a 'made in India' fashion statement

January 16, 2026 1:13 pm

Often called the “prince suit” or the “prince cut” in common parlance, the bandhgala originated in the princely state of Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Take a look at its fascinating journey.

PM Modi opens ‘The Light & The Lotus’: History of Piprahwa Gems returned to India after 127 years

January 03, 2026 10:46 am

The relics, which were taken by an Englishman from their resting place in India in 1898, were returned to the country last year, the Ministry of Culture said

Portland Frog: The cultural reinvention of the amphibian, now as a symbol of resistance

December 31, 2025 7:23 pm

The frog suits in the 2025 Portland protests and the appearance of Pepe in the 2019 Hong Kong protests herald an increasingly popular trend of weaponising humour and absurdity to respond to perceived excesses

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