The wedding of the sacred plant Tulsi – known as Tulsi lagna or Tulsi vivah – was celebrated in Hindu households throughout Goa on the evening of Oct 30. I meandered through the villages of Chorão and Tikhazana, sampling the primed Tulsi Vrindavans of varied designs and the associated festivities.
In the village of Shirgaon in Goa’s Bicholim taluka lies the old temple of Goddess Lairai, a form of the Mother Goddess. The annual jatra (festival) associated with this shrine features unusual customs & rituals drawn from the area’s tribal past. Lairai-devi and Milagres Saibinn (Virgin Mary) of nearby Mapusa are recognized as...
Built in the 9th century AD by Raja Chand, the magnificent Chand Baori in the village of Abhaneri near Jaipur, Rajasthan, combines Geometry, Engineering and Art. This stepwell features 13 levels and is 19.8 metres deep.
Despite being a structure of great historical importance, its upkeep leaves much to be desired.
