EXPLAINED CULTURE NEWS - Page 3

'Squid Game' remains Netflix’s biggest show.

How South Korea became a cultural powerhouse, and what’s nextSubscriber Only

June 29, 2025 19:59 IST

The third season of “Squid Game” has arrived on Netflix, the final installment of a show whose first season set viewership records. But the so-called Korean Wave shows no signs of subsiding.

Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath: Why millions throng Puri to witness the annual eventSubscriber Only

June 26, 2025 11:26 IST

According to Hindu mythology, the Lord and his siblings – Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra – embark on a nine-day annual sojourn to their birthplace.

Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya temple: Significance of major Assam religious festivalSubscriber Only

June 23, 2025 16:39 IST

It is estimated that several lakh devotees visit the Kamakhya temple during the Ambubachi Mela, with last year’s footfall estimated at around 7 lakh. What is this festival and why does it draw devotees to Assam every year?

International Yoga Day: Why is it hard to pinpoint the origin of yoga?Subscriber Only

June 21, 2025 19:07 IST

Yoga is undoubtedly of ancient provenance. But being specific about its genesis is an impossible task

Ram darbar consecration at Ayodhya: What this means, which is the ‘only temple’ where Ram is worshipped as kingSubscriber Only

June 19, 2025 13:35 IST

While the Ram Darbar can be found in many Indian homes, there is only one temple in India where Ram is worshipped as the king. Which temple is that? In which other forms is Ram worshipped? We explain.

Jyeshtha Ashtami and the Kheer Bhawani temple: A sacred spring’s significance in Kashmiri Pandit heritageSubscriber Only

June 9, 2025 05:29 IST

This year, visitors to the temple at the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela included L-G Manoj Sinha, Mehbooba Mufti, and Farooq Abdulla. What is this fair, and what is its importance for Kashmiri Pandits?

History of the Blues: Music born of sweat and sorrow that’s at the heart of Ryan Coogler’s SinnersSubscriber Only

June 8, 2025 20:24 IST

Blues music: The story of a folk art form with roots in Africa and emergence in the Mississippi Delta, which became the essence of American music.

Mango’s chemistry and history: what gives it its distinct aroma; its link to the Buddha and BaburSubscriber Only

June 2, 2025 11:56 IST

The mango has interested rulers and travellers in India over centuries, even featuring in a conspiracy theory related to the death of Pakistan's former President, General Zia Ul Haq. What's the science behind its unique flavours, allowing its use in everything ranging from pickles to desserts and dals?

Taylor Swift finally owns all her master recordings: the story, and why this is significantSubscriber Only

May 31, 2025 15:37 IST

Friday’s announcement culminated a six-year-long saga when the Scooter Braun-owned Ithaca Holdings acquired her masters in 2019. The resulting ‘feud’ between Swift and Braun would have reverberations on the industry going forward.

Bangladesh War (1971) by Chittaprosad. (DAG)

The art of war: How artists have chronicled India’s conflicts, from Partition to 1971 warSubscriber Only

May 26, 2025 11:55 IST

Indian artists’ visual evocations of the tragedy and triumph of wars have created a corpus of artworks that now serve as indispensable documentation

‘Homebound’ at Cannes 2025: The real story behind Neeraj Ghaywan’s sophomore directorialSubscriber Only

May 23, 2025 09:51 IST

The film, backed by American filmmaking legend Martin Scorsese and Bollywood giant Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, was inspired by a 2020 essay in The New York Times by Basharat Peer, former Opinions editor at the publication.

Giacometti bust, estimated to fetch $70 million, goes unsold: How do art auctions work?Subscriber Only

May 22, 2025 17:44 IST

How do art auctions work? How are artworks valued for auction? What happens when an artwork fails to find a buyer at an auction? Here is what to know.

Explained: Banu Mushtaq’s journey from Karnataka’s rebel movement to the Booker stageSubscriber Only

May 21, 2025 18:06 IST

Banu Mushtaq Booker Prize, International Booker 2025 winner: Originally published in Kannada and previously translated into Urdu, Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam, ‘Heart Lamp’ brings the voice of one of southern India’s most potent protest writers to a global audience.

In conflict-scorched Manipur, Shirui Lily festival kicks off: All you need to know, about the festival and the flowerSubscriber Only

May 20, 2025 12:27 IST

The Shirui Lily festival could see the first major movement of Meitei people through Kuki-Zo settlements in two years. What is the festival, and what makes this flower special?

Mrs Dalloway 100 years, Virginia Woolf legacy: Mrs. Dalloway (first edition, 1925); cover art by Vanessa Bell.

What writers think of Virginia Woolf’s ‘Mrs Dalloway’, a century laterSubscriber Only

May 18, 2025 16:32 IST

A century after the publication of Mrs Dalloway, writers, poets and academics speak of its quiet, radical power, and how it touched their lives.

Cannes 2025: How the Palm Dog awards celebrate the best canine performers on screenSubscriber Only

May 15, 2025 15:20 IST

The Palm Dog Woopets is named after the Palme d'Or, the highest recognition at the Cannes festival and recognises the best performances by a canine on film. The award was instituted in 2001.

Bollywood actresses Sonam Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Deepika Padukone have all wornlong trail dresses at Cannes.

Cannes 2025 rules ban ‘naked dressing’, long trains: How did the fashion trends originate?Subscriber Only

May 15, 2025 21:01 IST

The ban on naked dresses and voluminous outfits with long trails also marks a new addition to the film festival’s conservative dress code.

Who was Maria Callas, ‘the Bible of opera’, brought to life by Angelina Jolie in a new film?Subscriber Only

May 14, 2025 14:00 IST

Most opera directors were fascinated by Maria Callas, even though her voice had them divided. Also, back when a larger physique was believed to contribute to a richer voice, Callas decided to lose around 30 kg in the middle of her career. Here's the story of her remarkable life.

What are the Piprahwa relics, and why is India trying to stop their auction?Subscriber Only

May 6, 2025 22:02 IST

On May 5, the Ministry of Culture served notice on Sotheby’s and the family of William Claxton Peppé, the man who carried out the excavation at Piprahwa in Siddharthnagar district in UP close to the Nepal border, demanding “immediate cessation” of the auction and repatriation of the relics to India

The iconic Hollywood Sign is pictured in Los Angeles, California, U.S., September 17, 2024.

Trump’s 100% tariff on foreign-made films: Is Hollywood ‘dying’, as he claimsSubscriber Only

May 5, 2025 16:53 IST

It is indeed true that a lot of Hollywood movies are being shot outside the US. Why is that happening, and what are the preferred locations? And what's the status of Hollywood itself?

Jab he Met: Before Shah Rukh Khan’s Met Gala debut, all you need to knowSubscriber Only

May 5, 2025 12:31 IST

Shah Rukh Khan’s Met Gala 2025 Debut: Shah Rukh Khan’s Met Gala look is being put together by ace designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. But what is the Met Gala, and why is it a big deal? What's the theme this year, and does that have anything to do with SRK's debut?

This Word Means: Akshay TritiyaSubscriber Only

April 30, 2025 17:54 IST

What is Akshay Tritiya, and why is buying gold on this day considered auspicious? What are the other reasons that make this day important, in Hinduism and in Jainism?

Navrasa Duende and Russian Ballet's Swan Lake performance.

International Dance Day commemorates ‘father of modern ballet’: Who was Jean-Georges Noverre?Subscriber Only

April 29, 2025 20:54 IST

International Dance Day 2025, Ballet history significance: The day celebrates the spontaneity of movement and expression that the art form is capable of. The French ballet dancer Noverre pioneered a more emotive, story-driven approach to dance.

Why Tamil Nadu banned mayonnaise, and its strange Madras connectionSubscriber Only

April 28, 2025 16:16 IST

In India, mayo was mostly eaten by the Westernised elites, in colonial clubs and their copycat restaurants. Its ubiquitous presence in street food is something entirely new. Here are two easy recipes – one for traditional egg-based mayo, and the other eggless.

Sitar Player Pt. Ravi Shankar (right) with tabla player Chatur Lal during a concert.

Stamp to commemorate Pandit Chatur Lal’s centenary: Who was this trailblazing tabla player?Subscriber Only

April 28, 2025 18:42 IST

Chatur Lal was a pioneer who introduced the tabla to western audiences as he travelled the world playing with other Indian greats, like Pandit Ravi Shankar, in the 50s and early 60s. In his centenary year, here's his story.

Jagdalpur, Oct 04 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during the "Bastar Dussehra Lokotsav" program, in Jagdalpur on Saturday. (@ChhattisgarhCMO X/ANI Photo)

Amid strife in Naxal ranks, Amit Shah draws the red line: ‘What talks? Drop weapons or…’

Political Pulse3 hr ago

Home Minister Amit Shah urges Maoists to lay down their arms and surrender, assuring a lucrative surrender policy and government's commitment to develop Naxal-affected areas. He promises to eradicate Naxalism by March 2026 and urges tribals to convince their misguided youth to join the mainstream.

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