Cultural and Civilisational Digest: April-2024

A Hindu festival in southwestern Pakistan brings a mountainous region to life- Associated Press

The ascent of steep mud volcanoes marks the start of Hindu pilgrims’ religious rituals in southwestern Pakistan. They climb hundreds of stairs or clamber over rocks to reach the summit, tossing coconuts and rose petals into the shallow crater while seeking divine permission to visit Hinglaj Mata, an ancient cave temple that is the focus of their three-day worship. The dramatic surroundings of Hingol National Park in Baluchistan province are the setting for Pakistan’s largest Hindu festival, Hinglaj Yatra, which started on Friday and ends on Sunday. Organizers say more than 100,000 Hindus are expected to participate. Click here to read... [2]

India, France discuss 'next steps' to build new National Museum in Delhi- Business Standard

France will partner with India for the ambitious new National Museum in Delhi, and a top French official and a team of experts have discussed the "next steps in this cooperation", the country's embassy here said on Tuesday. The upcoming Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum -- billed to be the largest museum in the world -- will have eight thematic segments telling the story of India spanning over 5,000 years. The new museum, to be housed in the North Block and South Block in the heart of the country's capital, will cover an area of 1.17 lakh sqm with 950 rooms spread over a basement and three storeys, Indian officials had earlier said. Click here to read... [3]

Love history? Marvel at Indian civilisation at this expo in Goa- Gomantak Times

Giving visitors this very opportunity to glimpse past treasures, Goa’s Aguad Port and Jail Complex, in Sinquerim, has become home to three unique expositions showcased under the banner ‘India’s Civilizational Marvels’. Speaking about his uniquely organised presentation, renowned restorer and antiquarian, Raghvendra Singh, expresses how the exhibition has been curated with a deep dive into the essence of our tradition in mind, that allows visitors to connect with India's Sabhyata (culture). Click here to read... [4]

Tamil Nadu: Karai megalithic site in neglect, take up excavation, demand residents, history enthusiasts- The New Indian Express

Another International Day for Monuments and Sites was observed on April 18 but residents of Karai and history enthusiasts lament the state of neglect the megalithic site in Karai of the district and the artefacts recovered from the spot are in. The village holds a wealth of archaeological wonders dating back to the Megalithic period. Discovered 78 years ago by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the site boasts of funeral artefacts, including burial urns, dolmens, cists, menhirs, offering a glimpse into ancient human civilisation. It was on June 26, 1946, the ASI discovered the 25-acre megalithic site in the village. Click here to read... [5]

'Surya Tilak' illuminates Ram Lalla's forehead in Ayodhya on Ram Navami- India Today

The Sun's rays fell on the forehead of Ram Lalla in the form of a 'surya tilak' at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on the occasion of Ram Navami on Wednesday. This was the first Ram Navami since the pran pratishtha of the idol of Lord Ram at the new temple, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22. Click here to read... [6]

105 years on, the spectre of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre still looms large- The Indian Express

It was said that the sun never sets on the British empire but on that fateful Baisakhi day in Punjab 105 years ago, it glowed a fierce red, just as a candle burns the brightest minutes before it extinguishes, casting a crimson hue over the golden yellow wheat fields. April 13, 1919, is immortalised in history as a black day for it bore witness to one of the most brutal and defining episodes of British colonial rule – the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Click here to read... [7]

NSA Ajit Doval explains why Indian civilisation is one of oldest and continuous- Hindustan Times

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday called the Indian civilisation as ‘one of the oldest and continuous civilisations’ which also has a vast expanse. "One is its antiquity, that it is one of the oldest civilizations and probably human life had evolved and society had perfected itself to a very high... (degree). Now, who did it? Whether they were the original people or they came from outside, they may be biased about that, but they all concede that this is a civilisation of antiquity," ANI quoted Doval as saying during his address at an event on the release of "History of Ancient India, a Volume 11 series" by the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) in New Delhi. Click here to read... [8]

Nationhood comes from common sense of history common vision of future among people NSA- The Week

A nationhood is constituted by people who share a "common sense of their history" and a "common vision of their future", National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said on Tuesday as he released an 11-volume series that charts different phases of the history of ancient India and its accomplishments. Click here to read... [9]

Tarkhanwala Dera excavations revealed unique Harappan settlement. But it was left to die- The Print

About 7,000 years ago, on the banks of Ghaggar river in northern India, the protohistoric settlements evolved from being humble farming communities to urban, trading seafaring civilisation. This change happened gradually over the course of thousands of years. These settlers enjoyed the resources in the region and used the river both as a source of livelihood and a means of transportation. Despite the dispersal of these early urban settlers, the area around Ghaggar was not abandoned for long. Painted Grey Ware users re-occupied the region, which is now a completely changed landscape, after a few hundred years. Then came the historical period powers such as Kushanas. In short, the historicity of the region, despite the disappearance of the Ghaggar—later recognised as Saraswati—offered an elaborate and much-celebrated picture of human survival in the region. Click here to read... [10]

Why are India’s best treasures still in England? ‘India can afford spectacular museums too’- The Print

Dalrymple elaborated, that an act of Parliament needs to be passed in other countries for museums to give things back to India. Moreover, he said, museums in India have been allotted budgets to look after artefacts properly. “India is now a rich country. We can afford new airports every week. So, we can afford equally spectacular museums which this great civilisation deserves.” Click here to read... [11]

Is India’s oldest temple in Madhya Pradesh? ASI begins excavations to find out- Times Travel

As per the latest development, the ongoing archaeological excavations conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at two mounds in Nachne village, Panna district, Madhya Pradesh, are of significant interest and importance. If reports are to go by, there is likelihood of potential discovery of India's oldest temple here, which has indeed sparked considerable excitement and anticipation among historians, archaeologists, and locals alike. Situated near the ancient Parvati and Chaumukh Nath temples, these excavation sites hold a wealth of historical significance. The ASI, with its expertise in uncovering and preserving India's rich cultural heritage, has undertaken the meticulous task of excavating these mounds to unearth any hidden treasures buried beneath the earth's surface. Click here to read... [12]

Telangana’s Pandavula Gutta gets geo heritage tag

Pandavula Gutta, a geological marvel in the Deccan plateau older than the Himalayas, has been recognised as the first geo-heritage site in Telangana’s Jayashankar Bhupalpally district by the Geological Survey of India. Click here to read... [13]