Culture and Civilisational Digest: April-2025

Odisha's Rath Yatra, Bali Yatra find place in Centre's intangible cultural heritage list- Hindustan Times

Bhubaneswar, Rath Yatra and Bali Yatra - two major festivals of Odisha which are famous worldwide - have been listed in the national inventory of intangible cultural heritage list of Sangeet Natak Akademi under the Centre's Ministry of Culture, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has said. Click here to read... [2]

PM Modi pays homage to Bangkok's reclining Buddha, celebrates India-Thailand’s spiritual bond- Hindustan Times

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangkok’s historic Wat Pho temple during his Thailand visit, accompanied by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. At the renowned site, home to the 46-metre-long Reclining Buddha, Modi paid homage and offered ‘Sanghadana’ to senior Buddhist monks. He also presented a replica of the Ashokan Lion Capital, highlighting the deep civilisational and spiritual ties between India and Thailand. Click here to read... [3]

Stone laid for museum at Kambarmedu- The Times of India

The week-long Kamba Ramayan festival concluded at Kambarmedu in Mayiladuthurai district on Sunday, with laying of foundation stone for an open-air museum and augmented reality/virtual reality centre at the archaeological site. Kambarmedu is believed to be the birthplace of the poet Kambar. Arunish Chawla, secretary in the ministry of culture, who attended the valedictory session, said the museum will depict Ramayana in Chola temples and provide an immersive experience to witness the true spirit of Kamba Ramayana and see it come to life. Click here to read... [4]

Nara Huda excavations reveal three phases of ancient civilisation- The New Indian Express

Excavations at Nara Huda mound, near Tirimal village in Khurda district has thrown up interesting insights into eastern India’s Chalcolithic culture including evolution of a well-defined agrarian community. The Archaeological Survey of India, which has been excavating the mound since 2021, has found remains belonging to the Chalcolithic period during the third phase of the dig. Archaeologist P K Dikhit said the excavation uncovered circular mud structures, rammed floors, mud walls and post holes. Click here to read... [5]

In tech-savvy world, Kerala teacher’s return to palm leaves instils nature connect- The New Indian Express

In an era dominated by smart classrooms and digital blackboards, a kindergarten teacher from Konni in Pathanamthitta district is reviving a centuries-old learning method in Kerala. Priya Mol S, 46, is bringing history to life by teaching her students using palm leaves and a traditional narayam (stylus) — a technique passed down through generations. The method her grandfather used decades ago is now shaping the minds of her young pupils. Priya collects the palm leaves herself, carefully inscribing Malayalam alphabets onto them. This hands-on, tactile approach not only connects children with nature but also offers them a lasting reference for their lessons. Click here to read... [6]

4000-yr-old chariot to be displayed at National Museum’s Harappan gallery- The New Indian Express

The National Museum in the national capital will have two added attractions — bronze-age solid-disk wheel chariot discovered from the Sinauli archaeological site in Uttar Pradesh and a permanent exhibition of epigraphs — on display. For the first time, the 4000-year-old horse-driven chariot will be available for public viewing in the museum. It will be part of the exhibits in the Harappan Gallery. The Archaeological Survey of India discovered the chariot in Sinauli village of Baghpat in April 2018 during excavations. It was part of a larger find that included royal burials, weapons, and other artefacts. Click here to read... [7]

Gujarat had its own way of life. Harappan influence turned it into a hub of innovation- The Print

At a recent lecture at the India International Centre, archaeologist P. Ajithprasad spotlighted Gujarat’s pivotal yet overlooked role in the Harappan civilisation. He highlighted Gujarat as a dynamic frontier where local Chalcolithic communities interacted with, adapted, and reshaped Harappan traits rather than simply absorbing them. Long before the Mature Harappan phase (2600–1900 BCE), regional cultures like Anarta, Padri, and Pre-Prabhas were already thriving with unique ceramics, pastoralist lifestyles, and evolving material cultures. As Harappan influence spread, Gujarat became a space of cultural fusion rather than colonisation—exemplified in sites like Dholavira and Surkotada, where indigenous and Harappan elements coexisted. Click here to read... [8]

Bhagavad Gita & Natyashastra manuscripts added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register; PM Modi calls it ‘proud moment’- The Times of India

In a significant recognition of India’s civilisational legacy, the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra have been inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, joining a list of documentary heritage from across the globe. The announcement was made by union minister of culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who called it a “historic moment for Bharat’s civilisational heritage.” Highlighting the significance, he said, “These timeless works are more than literary treasures—they are philosophical and aesthetic foundations that have shaped Bharat’s worldview and the way we think, feel, live, and express.” India now has 14 entries on this international register, he further revealed. Click here to read... [9]

ASI opens exhibition on World Heritage Day at Jantar Mantar- Hindustan Times

The Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi circle, inaugurated a photo exhibition at Jantar Mantar to mark World Heritage Day on 18th April. The exhibition is themed “Heritage under threat from disasters and conflicts”. An ASI official said the exhibition, showcases photographs and information about several UNESCO World Heritage Sites across India. “Several of the monuments featured in the exhibition are under the care of ASI. ASI has over the years protected more than 3,600 monuments and sites, of which 43 have been inscribed on the World Heritage list,” the official added. Click here to read... [10]

The forgotten Indian explorer who uncovered an ancient civilisation- BBC

An Indian archaeologist, whose career was marked by brilliance and controversy, made one of the world's greatest historical discoveries. Yet he remains largely forgotten today. In the early 1900s, Rakhaldas Banerjee unearthed Mohenjo-daro in present-day Pakistan. It was the largest city of the thriving Harappan Civilisation, which stretched from north-east Afghanistan to north-west India during the Bronze Age. Banerjee, an intrepid explorer and talented epigraphist, worked for the Archaeological Survey of India when the country was under British colonial rule. He spent months travelling to distant corners of the subcontinent, looking for ancient artefacts, ruins and scripts. Click here to read... [11]

British museums: Curators of plundered Indian wealth, culture- Hindustan Times

To be honest, I don’t like to visit British museums. This has nothing to do with any aversion to British aesthetics, or some of the genuinely beautiful things displayed in them. My reservation stems from the fact that so much of what is there is part of the wanton plunder and loot of priceless Indian artefacts, and indeed, from other countries so colonised or conquered. Click here to read... [12]

Centuries of Sacred History Tumbled Down in Myanmar Earthquake- NDTV World

When a massive earthquake struck Myanmar last month, centuries of sacred history crumbled in an instant. The magnitude-7.7 tremor devastated Nagayon Pagoda in Mandalay, Myanmar’s last royal capital, where much of the city’s ancient heritage was reduced to rubble. The disaster claimed more than 3,700 lives. For nearly 200 years, the temple had been adorned with a revered carving of a sacred serpent—believed to have shielded the Buddha from the elements after his enlightenment. But when the earthquake struck one month ago, it reduced the centuries-old shrine to a heap of broken masonry, leaving the serpent’s bowing head half-buried in the ruins. Click here to read... [13]

Rajasthan, Haryana to gain from diversion of Indus waters as plan to revive Saraswati River gets boost- The New Indian Express

Following India's suspension of the Indus Water Treaty after the Pahalgam incident, water from the Sindhu, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers, currently flowing into Pakistan, may soon be redirected to benefit northern states like Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab. As part of this plan, efforts to revive the long-extinct Saraswati River in Rajasthan will also be expedited. In a significant development, Rajasthan and Haryana officials met scientists in Jaipur on Monday to discuss reviving the Saraswati River. A team from Indian Space Research Organisation and the Government of Denmark will map the river's ancient paleo channel to trace and restore its original flow. Click here to read... [14]