Tag Archives: India Culture & Traditions Q&A

The celebration of the new year is actually the oldest of all holidays, but it hasn’t always been observed on January 1. Babylonians first celebrated the beginning of the new year about 4000 years ago around 2000 BC. Unlike our holiday today, the Babylonians marked the beginning of the year on what is now March 23 since that is when …

Every culture has its own way to celebrate New Year’s Day. In the U.S., many people throw parties, and crowds gather in New York’s Times Square and at Chicago’s State Street on New Year‘s Eve. In the American South, people eat black-eyed peas for good luck in the new year. In Spain and some of South America, people get good …

What is the History of Christmas Carols? Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas Carols. They were pagan songs, sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations as people danced round stone circles. The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, usually taking place around the 22nd December. The word Carol actually …

Jesus “Christ” is known as the founder or central figure of “Christianity.” Christmas is a Christian holiday on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus. Ancient Romans also commemorated Jesus’ birth by marking a division of the calendar still in use today. The years before Jesus’ birth are marked as B.C. (Before Christ), and the years after Jesus’ birth …

No, the various species of zebra Burchell’s, mountain and Grevy’s-all have different coat patterns. (So also, do the various subspecies such as Chapman’s.) Thus, although all zebras look superficially the same, scientists can tell them apart by comparing the width of the stripes and the overall patterning. Awkward target but why to zebras have stripes to begin with? You might …

This is the most obvious question to ask about zebras but unfortunately nobody really knows the answer. Looking as zebras in the zoo, the stripped patterning seems very conspicuous and could hardly be thought of as protective. One theory, however, claims that this is, in fact, so. The bold stripes may serve to break up the shape of the zebra. …

There are three different variations of Teej, namely – Hariyali, Kajari and Hartalika Teej. All the three Teej falls in different times and are celebrated with fervor and enthusiasm by womenfolk in India. Date of Teej Festival is decided according to the arrival of monsoon and hence it changes every year. There are special rituals and customs associated with every …

Rooted deep in Indian religious and cultural ethos – Teej plays a significant role in defining the true nature of relationship between a married couple. Besides, the festival provides much needed break to womenfolk from their daily household drudgery. Find out how Teej is significant in these and more ways to the women in India. Religious significance of Teej festival …

Women either gather at a nearby temple or a garden where the pooja is arranged. The main pooja takes place with holy offerings of flowers, sweets and coins. A semi-circle is created and an idol of Goddess Parvati is kept in the middle. A pujarin or all the ladies together narrate the holy Teej Katha. Young girls also sit to …

Teej honors Goddess Parvati – symbol of utter devotion and love. Hence Teej is also called Teej Mata Festival in India. Both married and unmarried Hindu women observe the three-day-long festival seeking blissful married life and happiness for their husband. Teej festivities and its celebrations are dedicated to Goddess Parvati this is why it’s purely a festival of womenfolk. The …