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EXPLAINED CULTURE NEWS
Amid growing calls for restitution, why the Smithsonian will return three bronzes to India
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
PM Modi opens ‘The Light & The Lotus’: History of Piprahwa Gems returned to India after 127 yearsSubscriber Only
January 3, 2026 10:46 IST
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 resistanceSubscriber Only
January 1, 2026 08:44 IST
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
5 board games played in ancient worlds, from India’s Chaturanga to The Royal Game of UrSubscriber Only
December 30, 2025 19:03 IST
A recent exhibition showcased India’s ancient board games, but their archaeological evidence has also been found globally, with some dating back thousands of years.
100 years of Radio Ceylon: How it once made a fractured region hum to a shared frequencySubscriber Only
December 23, 2025 19:29 IST
Radio Ceylon was the first radio broadcaster in Asia. As it completes 100 years, we look back at the role it has played for the subcontinent.
No meat, intoxicants to be sold in Punjab’s 3 new ‘Holy Cities’: Reasons for their selectionSubscriber Only
December 22, 2025 19:49 IST
Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, and Talwandi Sabo are associated with three of the five Sikh Takhts. Here is what changes for them.
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ in theatres : The debate on the lasting impact of James Cameron’s seriesSubscriber Only
December 22, 2025 20:14 IST
Despite its box-office triumphs, discussion around the Avatar franchise continues to centre on its perceived lack of cultural relevance. Does the series have a cultural footprint — and does it matter?
Recalling Rob Reiner, the versatile writer-director who helped shape today’s HollywoodSubscriber Only
December 16, 2025 19:16 IST
Reiner’s sudden demise has triggered an outpouring of grief from Hollywood elites, several of whom he worked with. Here is everything to know about the prolific writer-director and comedian
Why does Jane Austen remain so popular? Because of craft, commerce, and common senseSubscriber Only
December 18, 2025 10:45 IST
On Jane Austen's 250th birth anniversary, we try to answer in 3 condensed points the subject of countless doctoral theses: just what is so great about her?
Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’ mints Rs 300 crore: Why action films are Bollywood’s favourite comeback vehicleSubscriber Only
December 14, 2025 16:27 IST
Dhurandhar Box Office Collection: When a Bollywood star is battling flops or returning after a break, they often don’t go for love stories or comedies. They come back swinging, literally, and for good reason.
A glowing recognition: How Diwali made it to UNESCO heritage listSubscriber Only
December 11, 2025 11:16 IST
Diwali UNESCO heritage, Intangible heritage list 2025: Diwali is the 16th Indian element to be inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The list now features around 700 elements, including 16 from India.
Who is Nnena Kalu, the first artist with learning disability to win Turner Prize?Subscriber Only
December 10, 2025 17:26 IST
Kalu's Turner Prize win not just makes a case for art as a solid medium of expression but also is a step towards blurring the distinctions between the neurotypical and neurodiverse artist
Nuzzi, Lizza, and the RFK Jr scandal: Why Vanity Fair removed Olivia Nuzzi as West Coast EditorSubscriber Only
December 7, 2025 19:42 IST
In his series of essays timed around the release of Nuzzi's memoir, Lizza has alleged that there was more to Nuzzi’s dalliance with RFK, and that she had engaged in gross violations of journalistic ethics. Here is what to know
How 2017 actress assault case involving Dileep brought about churn in Malayalam film industrySubscriber Only
December 8, 2025 11:11 IST
Dileep assault case, 2017 Malayalam actress assault case: The assault was allegedly a part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by actor Dileep
What is Pantone, and why does it crown a ‘Colour of the Year’ every December?Subscriber Only
December 6, 2025 10:53 IST
Pantone began as a printing business. How — and why — did a company decide to become the authority on colours? We explain
Explained: Dizzying popularity of Spotify Wrapped, and why it has set off criticismSubscriber Only
December 4, 2025 16:08 IST
The campaign has been wildly successful: Wrapped’s release has historically correlated with a boost to Spotify’s app store rankings.
What Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year, ‘rage bait’, says about today’s internetSubscriber Only
December 1, 2025 18:15 IST
What does rage baiting mean, why did Oxford choose this word, and what does it say about the world in 2025? We explain.
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