EXPLAINED CULTURE NEWS - Page 4

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.

Hanuman Garhi priest to break centuries-old tradition to visit Ram temple: What is happening, whySubscriber Only

April 29, 2025 07:47 IST

The rule book of Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi states that the chief priest should not leave the premises of the Garhi. This has been followed strictly so far. Why is the rule in place, and why is Mahant Prem Das now breaking it?

Commonly known as Dubai chocolate, the 'Can't Get Knafeh of It' bar, created by the chocolatier Sarah Hamouda. Styled by Yossy Arefi.

Origins of the viral Dubai chocolate, now helping drive up pistachio pricesSubscriber Only

April 22, 2025 12:48 IST

Here is the story of the Dubai chocolate which social media has gone nuts for, and why it has been cited as one of the reasons behind high pistachio prices this year.

The only royal connection to any biryani is probably the unique Kolkata biryani, developed by the khansamas of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, who had been exiled to Calcutta by the British.

Truths and myths around the beloved biryani, and how to make the mutton version at homeSubscriber Only

April 20, 2025 16:37 IST

Tracing biryani's history mostly leads to apocryphal tales of queens and nawabs, but it may actually have roots as a working class meal. Whatever its inspirations may have been, it enjoys unrivalled popularity today. Here is how you can make a version of the Royal mutton biryani.

The legends around eggs’ Easter connection, from rebirth symbolism to restrictions on meatSubscriber Only

April 20, 2025 15:31 IST

Easter eggs history: Items such as hot cross buns, which are sweet and fruity loaves of bread baked with the shape of a cross, were traditionally eaten around this time of the year. The egg supposedly became a part of Easter around the 13th century.

Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register: All you need to knowSubscriber Only

April 18, 2025 18:37 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the inclusion of the two ancient Indian texts as ‘a proud moment for every Indian across the world’

On Good Friday, the story of da Vinci’s Last Supper & its Indian interpretationsSubscriber Only

April 18, 2025 12:04 IST

One of the most important episodes in the Bible, Christ’s last meal with his twelve apostles has long been a popular subject among artists

London’s oldest Indian restaurant, Michelin-starred Veeraswamy, facing closure: here’s whySubscriber Only

April 15, 2025 19:05 IST

Established in 1926, London's Veeraswamy has served guests like former British PM Winston Churchill, late Queen Elizabeth II, former Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru, actor Charlie Chaplin among others. Here's its history, and the shadow on its future.

Remembering author Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel laureate and stalwart of Latin American BoomSubscriber Only

April 15, 2025 21:28 IST

A liberal who revered order, a novelist devoted to realism, a critic of radicalism who once flirted with revolution, Vargas Llosa was, in many ways, an anachronism. However, his contradictions did not diminish his influence.

bengali new year, bengali new year 2025, Pohela Boishakh, Bengali New Year, Bengali calendar, Bangabda, Bangladesh Pohela Boishakh, West Bengal Pohela Boishakh, King Shashanka, Gregorian leap year, Hindu festivals, Indian express explained

Why Bangladesh celebrates Pohela Boishakh on April 14Subscriber Only

April 15, 2025 14:47 IST

Bengali New Year celebration: Pohela Boishakh is literally the first day (pohela) of Boishakh, the first month in the traditional Bengali calendar.

Amarnath, Amarnath yatra, Amarnath temple

Amarnath Yatra: History, legend of this shrine up in the mountainsSubscriber Only

July 7, 2025 16:41 IST

Amarnath Yatra 2025, Amarnath Temple History: Why is the Amarnath temple called so? What do history books say about the temple? And what is the story of Buta Malik? We explain.

anime, Japanese animation, animated films

Ghibli trend: How anime has repeatedly overcome challenges that defined the timesSubscriber Only

April 13, 2025 12:12 IST

Over the years, anime has overcome a series of obstacles: from the mundane pressures of limited budgets to natural disasters. It was even weaponised to serve Imperial Japan’s propaganda machine. Here is how the industry broke free of these challenges to become what it is today

Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.

‘Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy’ comes to India: Behind the enduring legacy of Caravaggio, a painter & an outlawSubscriber Only

April 13, 2025 12:25 IST

The arrival of the painting in India comes after a centuries-long journey. Caravaggio is thought to have painted Magdalene in 1606, which only surfaced to the public in 2014 after lifetimes of being known through copies

'Tree Roots' by Vincent Van Gogh and the real location in France.

Van Gogh’s last work, and the legal battle over the spot in France that he paintedSubscriber Only

April 23, 2025 13:08 IST

There is a story behind how the Dutch master’s last work was identified, and another behind the place it showed. It’s been 135 years since the genius killed himself, and the battle for this piece of his memory could continue for longer.

PM Modi at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi: All about the ‘oldest living tree’, linked to an Indian princessSubscriber Only

April 7, 2025 12:26 IST

PM Modi Anuradhapura Visit: The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura is believed to have grown from a branch that an Indian princess carried to Sri Lanka. Here's the story of the tree, and why it is so significant for Buddhists.

The Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana award honours Heads of State and government heads with whom Sri Lanka has cordial relations.

PM Modi awarded Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana: All about top Sri Lankan civilian honourSubscriber Only

April 6, 2025 12:31 IST

The award is Sri Lanka's highest honour to a foreigner. Only three heads of state have been awarded in the past. Here is what to know.

Sarhul, tribal festival Sarhul, tribal festivals, Jharkhand tribal festivals, Oraon, Munda, Santal, Khadia, siram toli, Indian express explained, explained news, current affairs

In celebration of tribal festival Sarhul, link to communities’ history, politicsSubscriber Only

April 2, 2025 19:07 IST

Sarhul, literally “worship of the Sal tree”, is among the most revered Adivasi festivals. It is rooted in nature worship and celebrates the symbolic union of the Sun and the Earth.

Mutton korma is an extremely rich, yet refined, dish made of goat meat, onions, dahi and lots and lots of oil.

This Eid, make true Old Delhi style korma at homeSubscriber Only

March 31, 2025 15:49 IST

You’ll need loads of coriander seeds and slightly sour curd. There can be no ‘authentic’ recipe for korma, but chances are you won’t get this taste in any of the famous ‘Mughlai’ restaurants in Old Delhi, Jamia, or Nizamuddin.

As AI-generated art goes viral, the story of Miyazaki and his Studio GhibliSubscriber Only

March 28, 2025 21:53 IST

Much like their visual aesthetic, Studio Ghibli’s stories blend the mundane with the fantastical. They are also deeply political, and contain complex characters who blur the binary between good and evil.

Who is R K Shriramkumar, violin maestro chosen for this year’s prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award?Subscriber Only

March 28, 2025 13:14 IST

Shriramkumar belongs to the Rudrapatnam family of illustrious musicians. He has accompanied musicians across generations on stage, from older legends such as M S Subbulakshmi and D K Pattammal to the virtuosos of today, T M Krishna and Bombay Jayashri

Paintings by J Sultan Ali (left) and Prosanto Roy, part of the DAG exhibition.

How Cubism, the art movement led by the likes of Picasso, evolved in IndiaSubscriber Only

March 28, 2025 13:14 IST

Cubism marked a break from traditionalist perspectives. Renowned Indian artists MF Husain and FN Souza, among others, are counted among its proponents.

From Delhi to Oslo, story of M F Husain’s painting that has been sold for a record Rs 118 croreSubscriber Only

March 24, 2025 18:38 IST

The monumental artwork was bought in 1954 by a Ukrainian-Norwegian doctor, and was displayed for decades in a private corridor in a hospital in Oslo. What is this painting, and what does it show?

How to make the perfect pizza at homeSubscriber Only

March 22, 2025 07:23 IST

What you want is a pie that has a thick outer lip, consisting almost entirely of trapped air, and a thin inner disc that is soft and foldable. Here’s how to get it

The temple is designed by architect Vishal Vijaykumar Patil. (Express Photo)

7 things you need to know about the new Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj temple in MaharashtraSubscriber Only

March 19, 2025 17:30 IST

Here’s all you need to know about the first temple dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra.

US-China trade war escalates as Trump imposes 100% tariff on Chinese imports

World3 hr ago

US President Donald Trump on Friday announced a new round of trade measures targeting China, announcing plans to levy an additional 100 per cent tariff on all Chinese imports and introduce strict export controls on US-made critical software starting November 1. Posting on Truth Social, Trump accused Beijing of taking an "extraordinarily aggressive" stance on trade.

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