Tol is a custom celebrated on a child’s first birthday in Korea. Do you know: In the past people would start the Tol day with a prayer to the mountain god–Sanshin and the birth goddess–Samshin. On the Tol day, the baby is dressed in colourful clothes known as ‘Tol-bok’, which are different for boys and […]
The Pushkar Camel Fair is organized annually in Pushkar, on the edge of the Thardesert in Rajasthan, India. Do you know: Approximately 3,00,000 people attend the fair. The Pushkar camel fair had started as a way to gather all local camel traders in the time of KartikPurnima festival. The fair has evolved with more than
The mourning period was of fourteen days. Then the ministers met in the assembly hall with all the sages and learned men of the kingdom to decide what was to be the next action. The late King had given his word to Kaikeyi. That had to be upheld. So, the assembly decided that Bharata be
Sage Vasishtha and the learned Vamadeva tried to console the grief-stricken brothers and dispel Bharata’s deep sense of guilt for his mother’s actions. They instructed him to perform Dasharatha’s last rites. Bharata acted according to their advice. The great funeral pyre of the late King was prepared on the banks of River Sarayu. The queens,
Manthara came in just then wearing gorgeous clothes and jewels. Shatrughna had already come to know of Manthara’s wicked role in the whole sad episode. Seeing her looking so triumphant, his fury exploded. He kicked her so hard that she fell with a crash, and broke her head. That was the end of Manthara. Bharata
Kaikeyi spoke very sweetly to Bharata, “Your father, my dear Bharata, has gone to his final rest after having spent a life of great virtue and righteous conduct. Now he is with all the gods in heaven.” Bharata was completely stunned by the news of his father’s death and collapsed on the floor, weeping like
Sometimes we see omens or dreams that tell us something good or bad is going to happen in the future. Bharata saw a dream showing him that someone dear to him had died and he woke up feeling very unhappy. He became even more worried when messengers from Vasishtha arrived in the morning asking him
For six days after Rama had left the palace, Dasharatha lay slowly dying. One day, he found he had lost his sight and told Kaushalya that he had become blind like Shravana’s parents. He felt his death was close. He called Rama over and over again as he finally breathed his last. The palace and
There is an interesting wedding custom in the Marquesas Islands that comprise 14 islands in French Polynesia. Do you know: Local weddings in the Marquesas Islands end in a ‘human carpet’. After the wedding, there is a custom where the bride’s relatives all lie facing down on their bellies. They form a long row in
Not having a single knot on the bride and the groom is an Orthodox Judaism custom. Do you know: This custom is emphasized more for the groom than the bride at the wedding. In the Lubavitch Hassidic sect of Judaism, the groom must arrive at his wedding without a knot on his body. Before the
Placing a doll similar to the bride at the wedding is a popular wedding custom in Puerto Rico. Do you know: The bride in Puerto Rico carries a bouquet made of poppy flowers and a fan, which are meant to bring good luck. A doll made in the likeness of the bride is during weddings.
There are many symbolic customs that surround weddings in Finland. Do you know: According to Finnish customs, the bride and the groom are supposed to take a sauna before their wedding. In Finland, the future bride-to-be wears a golden crown on her head. An older married man accompanies her. Along with him, she goes from
Blindfolding the groom is a common custom in Estonian weddings. Do you know: Only the groom and men at the wedding carry out the blindfold tradition in Estonia. After the wedding, the groom in Estonia is blindfolded at his own reception and single men are made to stand around him. The groom is spun around
There are some strange amusing customs surrounding Russian weddings. Do you know: The guest who wishes to get married soon, secretly pulls the tablecloth at the couple’s reception. Russian celebrations last for two days, and on the second day, the Russians have a tradition where guests have to buy their forks, spoons and knives at
“I removed the arrow and held him as he breathed his last. The regret and grief in my heart was terrible. But the deed was done,” said Dasharatha, “I took the water to them. Just the sight of those two blind and helpless people shook my soul! I fell at their feet and sought their