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mother's day: A young Anna heard her mother say, "I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will find a memorial mothers' day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it.”

Mother’s Day: All about the woman who created, and then hated, this day

May 11, 2026 15:42 IST

Mother's Day 2026 Date, History, Significance Explained: Anna Jarvis was an American activist who founded Mother’s Day to honour her and “all mothers” in 1908. But, she grew bitterly disappointed with the way it eventually came to be celebrated.

Karan Johar arrives at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala on May 4 in New York. (AP/PTI)

Indian Art walks the red carpet: How celebrities showcased their heritage at the Met Gala 2026Subscriber Only

May 6, 2026 09:09 IST

The 2026 Met Gala featured Indian celebrities blending couture with traditional art, from Isha Ambani’s gold saree to Karan Johar’s Ravi Varma-inspired look.

Met Gala SRK Diljit Dosanjh

Met Gala: How a simple New York fundraiser became ‘fashion’s biggest night’Subscriber Only

May 5, 2026 11:57 IST

The 2026 edition took place today at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. How did it begin, and why does the event matter? Here’s what to know.

Devil Wears Prada

‘The Devil Wears Prada’ predicted fast fashion: How Paris runway looks reach Indian malls in 3 weeksSubscriber Only

May 3, 2026 15:21 IST

An independent ecosystem shapes the way global runway trends are decoded, adapted and delivered to Indian shoppers at record speed.

Yashoda and Krishna by Raja Ravi Varma

How Raja Ravi Varma, whose ‘Yashoda and Krishna’ fetched a record Rs 167 cr, blended Indian themes with European sensibilitiesSubscriber Only

April 30, 2026 09:58 IST

On the artist’s 178th birth anniversary, here’s a look at why his legacy endures, his textured journey and the ecosystem that both celebrated and criticised his talent.

Jaafar Jackson (right), the nephew of Michael Jackson (left), plays him in the movie 'Michael'.

What Michael Jackson’s new biopic leaves out about his complicated legacySubscriber Only

April 25, 2026 09:20 IST

‘Michael’ focuses on the beginnings of Jackson’s career and his relationship with his father. It does not detail the multiple allegations of child sex abuse that were levelled at him over the years.

Pope Leo XIV

How the Iran war pitted the most American Pope against the most ‘Christian’ PresidentSubscriber Only

April 22, 2026 07:20 IST

The confrontation unfolding this week highlights a classic conundrum: the showdown between the quest for absolute political power and the Vatican’s moral authority, in which the Trump administration seeks legitimacy. We explain

Asha Bhosle

Asha Bhosle: How she was made by and remade ‘playback singing’Subscriber Only

April 17, 2026 14:00 IST

In Hindi cinema, the face and the voice have long been separate, stitched together through playback singing. Here's a brief history of the practice, and Asha Bhosle's place in it.

The album cover of 'Arirang' by BTS.

From cult films to folk music, how BTS nod to Korean culture in their album ‘Arirang’Subscriber Only

April 16, 2026 07:34 IST

The new BTS album comes amid recent debates on what constitutes K-pop. With the title referring to a Korean folk song, the group has chosen to include several overt references to Korean history and culture.

Easter: Chocolate was unknown to Europe until the 17th century, when it was brought from Central and South America.

On Easter Sunday, recalling the history of its popular symbols — from chocolate eggs to rabbitsSubscriber Only

April 6, 2026 08:57 IST

The Easter date is fixed based on the full Moon. It is generally observed in either March or April, leading to its association with the onset of Spring — a season symbolising growth and rebirth in nature.

'Yashoda and Krishna' (left, sold at the recent auction, and 'Goddess Lakshmi'.

Raja Ravi Varma painting sells for record Rs 167 crore: How India’s most expensive artist made art for the massesSubscriber Only

April 2, 2026 16:13 IST

Believed to have made more than 7,000 paintings, Varma combined European realism with Indian sensibilities. His inspiration came from varied sources — from Indian literature to dance drama.

apple

As Apple turns 50, remembering how Ronald Wayne became the ‘forgotten founder’Subscriber Only

April 2, 2026 13:15 IST

What was Wayne’s contribution to Apple and why did he fade away from public memory? As Apple turns 50 years old, we look at how Wayne became the company’s 'forgotten founder'

Catholic

Palm Sunday mass at Jerusalem: Why Israel’s blockade of Latin patriarch provoked outrageSubscriber Only

March 31, 2026 09:15 IST

Israeli police said that all holy sites in Jerusalem, regardless of the faith, had been closed to worshippers in fear of Iranian strikes amidst its ongoing war with the US and Israel.

A still from 'Kpop Demon Hunters'. (Netflix)

With 2 Oscar wins, how ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ charted a path to mainstream successSubscriber Only

March 18, 2026 20:25 IST

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ follows a fictional Korean girl group called Huntrix, as they lead double lives fighting demons. How did it become Netflix’s most-watched film and earn critical acclaim along the way?

rick roll

CBSE Class 12 board exam paper has a 20-year-old meme in a QR code: What is the ‘rickroll’?Subscriber Only

March 11, 2026 09:15 IST

In a statement on Tuesday, the board said that some sets of the Math question paper featured the QR codes, and verified that the question papers were genuine

Jhumka Ralph Lauren

Explained: The Jhumka, Ralph Lauren, and the dangling question of patenting heritage craftSubscriber Only

March 10, 2026 20:48 IST

Although the fashion label failed to credit Indian craftsmanship, traditional cultural expressions like jhumkas, bandhani, chikankankari, or kolhapuris often fall into a grey area in IP law.

Smithsonian NMAA Idol Return

Amid growing calls for restitution, why the Smithsonian will return three bronzes to IndiaSubscriber Only

February 11, 2026 23:27 IST

The three bronzes, which have been part of the NMAA’s 'existing collections' for decades, came on the provenance team’s radar after an ongoing systematic review raised discrepancies in their respective paper trails

Bad Bunny

Why Bad Bunny’s Grammy win made history and stirred up politicsSubscriber Only

February 5, 2026 11:28 IST

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.

Dholavira in Gujarat is one of the largest cities of Indus Valley Civilisation, with stepwell steps to reach the water level in artificially constructed reservoirs.

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

February 4, 2026 09:31 IST

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.

The Sri Devarajaswamy Temple in Kanchipuram. Wikimedia Commons

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

January 30, 2026 14:35 IST

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.

Ajit V Gupte, the Indian Ambassador to Germany, with Lars-Christian Koch after the Padma Shri announcement.

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

January 29, 2026 18:48 IST

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.

Bayeux

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

January 28, 2026 16:39 IST

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

Rihanna's 'Anti' album

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

January 22, 2026 14:06 IST

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

No one "owns" a Wikipedia article, and all contributions must follow the core principles of neutrality, verifiability and reliance on reputable sources.

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

January 15, 2026 20:13 IST

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.

bandhgala, bandhgala

Railways discontinues ‘colonial uniform’: Evolution of the bandhgala, a ‘made in India’ fashion statementSubscriber Only

January 16, 2026 13:13 IST

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.

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