Asian Lite News Archive

Category: Arts & Culture

  • Gaiety marks Bonalu festival

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     Bonalu, the folk festival of Telangana, was celebrated here Sunday with pomp and gaiety. Hundreds thronged the Mahankali temples in the Old City and other parts of Hyderabad since morning. This is the first Bonalu after the formation of the Telangana state. The festival is being officially celebrated as the Telangana government has declared it…

  • PICS: Pranab on tour

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    Indian President Mr  Pranab Mukherjee on tour in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. He attended ceremonies at leading education institutions besides visiting the Padmanabha Swami Temple, at Trivandrum, in Kerala and Mariamman Temple in Thanjavur

  • India to revive ancient Nalanda

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    Imran Khan says Applications have come from the US, Russia, England, Spain, Germany, Japan, Myanmar, Austria and Sri Lanka for Nalanda University which is set to open Sept 1 Part of a premier state-owned hotel will temporarily serve as a hostel for students of the revived Nalanda University, an international centre of learning coming up in…

  • PICS: Folklore Fest- Croatia

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    Participants from Canada perform at the 48th International Folklore Festival in Zagreb, capital of Croatia. More than a thousand participants in 42 groups from Croatia and 10 other countries took part in the traditional festival.

  • OBIT: Nadine Gordimer

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    Saeed Naqvi pays tribute to Nadine Gordimer- Chronicler of apartheid and South Africa’s transition  The world was in ideological transition when I met Nadine Gordimer in her bungalow in a Johannesburg suburb. Nelson Mandela had been released that very month after 27 years in the “White Man’s prison”. Earlier, the Soviet Union had collapsed. Wild victory celebrations…

  • PICS: Festival with sand

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    Some snaps from the international festival of sand sculptures in St.Petersburg, Russia

  • In Love with Death

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    Join author and philanthropist Satish Modi as he talks about his book, In Love with Death, at the Just Festival in Edinburgh on Saturday 16 August. Now in its fourteenth year, Just is one of Edinburgh’s most exciting and diverse festivals. The festival explores equality and diversity through a range of top-quality speakers, performances, films, food, exhibitions and workshops.…

  • Aa Gaye Munde U.K. De

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    Following the phenomenal Box Office success of the prequel, director Manmohan Singh presents the follow-up installment of one of Punjabi cinema’s most popular franchises, Aa Gaye Munde U.K. De, releasing in cinemas on 8th August, presented by Trehan Productions and being released by Yash Raj Films. A breezy rom-com that soars high on feelgood factor, Aa Gaye Munde U.K. De marks this summer’s must-watch – an…

  • FAMILY WARS – Indian Style

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    Daily Dose BY BIKRAM VOHRA Have you noticed how we spend most of our children’s early years teaching them to walk and talk and then the rest of it telling them to shut up and sit down. In thousands of home these wars are fought every day. Why? Why what? Why should I sit down.…

  • Magician Samraj wins Merlin Award

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    Kerala magician Samraj will receive the prestigious international Merlin Award-2014 in the “Scary Magic” category, an official announcement said Wednesday. The 58-year-old engineer-turned-magician said even though he was told he was in the list of awardees, he cannot believe it. “Yes, I am still unable to come to terms with this rare honour. Tony Hassini,…

  • PICS: Fireworks lit up Paris

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    Fireworks explode around the Eiffel Tower during the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris, capital of France. Bastille Day marks the July 14, 1789, storming of the Bastille prison by angry Paris crowds that helped spark the French Revolution. The French capital enjoyed a fireworks show , exceptionally fired from the Eiffel Tower.

  • OBIT: Nadine Gordime

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    Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer, 90, dies in Johannesburg The writer, who was one of the literary world’s most powerful voices against apartheid – died at her home after a short illness, her family said. She wrote more than 30 books, including the novels My Son’s Story, Burger’s Daughter and July’s People, BBC reported. She jointly won 1974’s…

  • PICS – Guru Purnima

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    Indian classical flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia with Indian classical vocalist Prabhakar Karekar during a programme organised on Guru Purnima at Veer Savarkar Rashtriya Auditorium in Mumbai

  • Violent cartoons and children

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    Shilpa Raina and Mudit Gupta analysing the violent in children’s cartoon series. How violent cartoon shows make children aggressive ? Children are unable to understand the thin line between reality and fiction, say experts who feel violent cartoon shows make them aggressive and less sensitive to pain and suffering.”Children don’t understand that the violence shown…

  • Humour in the Battlefield

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    Vikas Datta in his weekly column Bookends analyses the Humour in the Battlefield War and humour – no two words can seem as divergent. But some incorrigibles, adept in uniting the most incongruous elements, have fashioned out quite a close relationship, manifested in some unforgettable depictions of armed conflict and combatants, bringing out the heroism,…

  • GALLERY: Pics from the ramp

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    India, a vast country with a over a billion people, is a home of varrious cultures. Fashion varies from regions to regions and cities. But there is a common thread weaves everything together- the Indianness

  • SPECIAL REPORT: Pakistan TV Shows

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    Pakistani TV shows are breaking down walls of mistrust, delusions  says Vikas Datta  “Mulk taksim huye, dil to abhi ek hai/Isi liye hamne khidkiyan kat rakhi hai deewaron mein (The nations were divided, but hearts are still one/That is why we’ve cut windows into the walls (between us))”, wrote an Urdu poet. Divided amid bloodshed, experiencing long spells…

  • BIG INTERVIEW: Samina Peerzada

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    Samina Peerzada told Radhika Bhirani that Pakistan-India content exchange will push connect She grew up watching the films of Bollywood’s late ethereal beauty Madhubala, has enjoyed new wave Indian gems like “Parineeta” and “Barfi!”, and loves to catch up on “Comedy Nights With Kapil”. But Samina Peerzada, a veteran actor-filmmaker from Pakistan, says exchange of content from…

  • Facelift for a British-era townhall in Shimla

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    Thanks to a major leg-up from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a blast from the colonial past will soon greet visitors to Shimla, India’s summer capital during the British Raj,with the government set to restore the iconic Town Hall located on The Mall, a favourite haunt of those out for a stroll. “The building will…

  • Bicycle with Barefoot

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    Bicycle with Barefoot is a piece of unique and inspiring original Asian dance theater presented by Annapurna Indian Dance to celebrate the historic occasion of Tour de France in Yorkshire. Shantha Rao, the artistic director of Annapurna Indian Dance Bicycle with Barefoot has been selected as part of Yorkshire Festival 2014 – the first ever 100…

  • Ravi Shankar’s Sukanya in London

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    The Ravi Shankar Foundation in association with the Royal Opera House, Indian High Commission, Arts Council England and Curve Theatre presents the maestro’s opera Sukanya on Monday 14th July 2014 (6.30 to 9.15pm). Ravi Shankar, known as the “Godfather of World Music” was one of the most influential musicians of all time. As music guru to the Beatles,…

  • Gandhi statue@Parliament Square

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     British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Chancellor George Osborne unveil plan for a Gandhi statue at London’s Parliament Square. Other prominent statues in the square are that of Churchill and Mandela   British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Chancellor George Osborne have announced plans for a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the inspiration for non-violent civil rights movements around the world,…

  • Breaking news face bumpy road

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    Shilpa Raina and Kavita Bajeli-Datt is looking for Breaking News. Hardly any because the Modi government tightens grip on information Among the subtle changes associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government are those dealing with the media and nowhere has it affected a news-hungry media’s working more than in the way news sources from the government…

  • And quiet flows the Ganges

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    Anjali Ojha says Sabarmati model not enough for cleaning the holy river Ganges A new ministry to tackle the cleaning of the Ganga may not really change its fate, nor can the “Sabarmati model”, experts say, adding that legislative provisions are needed to ensure that the river’s glory is restored. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi…

  • Vatican welcomes Morari Bapu

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    Cardinal Tauran speaks at Morari Bapu’s Ram Katha in Rome The Vatican’s head of Interreligious dialogue paid tribute to renowned Hindu spiritual leader Morari Bapu at an event in Rome. Cardinal Tauran, the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, attended a Hindu recital that is running for 9 days in the heart of Rome. Addressing the…

  • Kerala Newsletter by Sanu George

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    Sanu George from Thiruvananthapuram reports that thattu dosha, omplate: the latest fad in Kerala street food Ever heard of combining a dosa and an omlette? Welcome to the steaming hot thattu dosha and omplate, the latest fad in Kerala street food. And, it’s a complete meal – for all of Rs.25! Put this to changing times…

  • Neasden temple hosts ‘Global peace meet’

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    BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London hosts a three-day international academic conference on the theme of ‘Realising Global Peace: The Role and Impact of Hindu Teachings.’ The conference at the Neasden temple was aimed to elucidate the role of peace within Hinduism and how Hindu teachings can positively contribute to not just academic scholarship but to humanity at…

  • DON’T GET EVEN, GET SMART

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    DAILY DOSE By Bikram Vohra A friend of mine wants revenge. Someone he trusted has done the dirty on him and he is hoping mad because he feels cheated, betrayed, let down and that is just for starters. Told him, waste of time and energy, enjoy the scenarios but don’t carry them out. Why not,…

  • GALLERY: Summer Solstice Fest

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    South Asian Arts-uk’s Summer Solstice festival in Leeds attracted a good audience. The concert is the only one of its kind in the UK which celebrates  Indian Classical Music. Running for its third year, the extravaganza of music encompassed a unique array of internationally acclaimed artists of Indian classical music who performed from the sunset through to sunrise.It’s been…

  • Indians thrive at Bapu’s Durban

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    Hadra Ahmed reports from Durban on the city which helps Gandhi to formulate his freedom struggle Once home to the young Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the city of Durban in South Africa has more overseas Indians than any other city outside India. Glimpses of India are visible in the sights, smells and sounds of this city on…

  • SPECIAL REPORT: Ramadan in India

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    Mohammed Shafeeq from Hyderabad says Ramadan is a a month of fasting, feasting and shopping by India’s Muslims  India’s 140 million Muslims, who constitute the world’s third-largest Muslim population, observe Ramadan with devotion and fervour. The holy month Ramadan, which began in India Monday, is a month of fasting, compassion and charity as Muslims try to move…

  • ENGLISH IS NO CRIMINAL

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    Daily Dose by Bikram Vohra The current brouhaha that is being witnessed in India over downgrading English is one fraught with danger. English is not a language in India. It is a caste. It is also a free pass to the best of jobs. And anyone tells you differently they are hypocrites. This hypocrisy raises…

  • GALLERY: London Rath Yatra

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    Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Dharma Bhakti Manor based on Wood Lane, Stanmore, London held the first ever Rath Yatra Procession in Harrow.  Thousands of devotees from around the UK graced the procession and pulled with great joy the beautifully decorated chariot of Lord Shri Jagannathji, Shri Balbhadraji and Subhadra Devi. The day commenced with a special…

  • Radio will never die: Sayani

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    The “cheap, accessible and wonderful” medium of radio is here to stay, says Ameen Sayani, the octogenarian radio presenter of the popular show “Binaca Geet Mala”. He adds that “splurge of digital mediums” such as music players and iPods “will not result into the death of radio”. Predicting a bright future for radio industry, where…

  • Bapu meets Pope’s envoys

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    Morari Bapu was warmly welcomed by Cardinal Tauran at the PCID headquarters in the Vatican. Following the meeting with other senior priests and scholars at the PCID, Bapu was invited to visit the renowned St Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world. Following the start of Morari Bapu’s historic Ram Katha in Rome, Bapu…

  • Rath Yatra at Harrow in London

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    London’s Harrow East witnessed the arrival of Lord Jagannath in his colourful chariot as thousands of devotees thronged to pay obeisance. The gathering include Uma Kumaran, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow East. The Rath Yatra festival saw three chariots pulled along by hundreds of devotees from Queensbury Park through to Stanmore Temple. On arrival there was…

  • In search of a missing rhino horn

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    Karishma Saurabh Kalita looks into the journey of a rhino horn, from the Orient to the Middle East As authorities continue to grapple with the deeply entrenched racket of poaching of the famous one-horned rhinoceros in Assam, the demand for its horn in markets abroad refuse to die down. The state symbol of the northeast Indian…

  • BIG INTERVIEW: Anurag Kashyap

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    Radhika Bhirani talks to Anurag Kashyap who wants to bring freshness to Indian TV  Innumerable melodramatic family dramas and romantic sagas are currently dominating the small screen and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is hoping to break the clutter with his finite series “Yudh”. He says if the medium allows “good” tales, he’s ready to make more…

  • BIG INTERVIEW: Falguni-Shane Peacock

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    Nivedita speaks to designer duo – Falguni-Shane Peacock.  They say designing for West gives them creative freedom Indian designer duo Falguni and Shane Peacock, who have designed for renowned international figures like Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, say that it’s always fun to make clothes for both ‘desi’ and ‘videshi’ stars. But their creative freedom…

  • ‘Voluntary work has greater advantage’

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    Maitreyee Sarcar, HF (Wolverhampton University), FRSA, co-founder and co-presenter of Surtarang Broadcast on Wolverhampton City Radio 101.8 WCR FM, speaks to Anjana Parikh from Asian Lite, about broadcasting Indian classical music from a foreign soil and reaching out to more than 18 million people across the globe. AL: Please tell us about yourself in brief?…

  • The hottest meditative tool

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     Shudip Talukdar says Mindfulness emerges as hottest meditative tool  Mindfulness is fast emerging as the hottest meditative tool, which is known to contribute to our wellbeing and productivity. Mindfulness is all about being focussed on the present moment, which has the power to liberate one from the shackles of past failures or pointless day dreaming about the…

  • Rise of India’s Creative Class

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    Amit Kapoor & Hardik Dedhia look into India’s creative class in their column: Active Voice According to a leading economist and social scientist Richard Florida, the creative class is the key driving force for economic development. It’s the class of workers who engage in problem finding and problem solving at various levels of our society. This creative class could…

  • BBC to recruit more from BAME

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    BBC announces  three new apprenticeship schemes to help people gain employment and make career progress at the BBC On the announcement of the BBC’s plans to address the on and off screen representation of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community at the BBC, Sadiq Khan MP, Shadow London Minister, said: “I warmly welcome the new…

  • Generation Citizen tops the list

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    The values of today’s teenagers were being shaped by tough economic times in the aftermath of the financial crash, just as they were in the 1930s New research on seven generations of Britons, including those who are now centenarians, reveals that today’s 13 to 19-year-olds, known as “generation citizen”, say that excelling in their career…

  • PICS: Yoga at Times Square

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         Enthusiasts practice yoga during the “Solstice in Times Square” event at Times Square in New York, the United States, June 21, 2014. Hundreds of New Yorkers marked the Summer solstice day by practicing yoga in Times Square Saturday. The 12th annual Solstice in Times Square was sponsored by the Times Square Alliance  

  • The day the music didn’t die

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    Karishma Saurabh Kalita writes on the day the music didn’t die to mark World Music Day “Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.” This homily from the late psychedelic rock star Jimi Hendrix resonated on the 32nd World Music Day on June 21.…

  • BIG INTERVIEW: Armaan Jain

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    I believe in healthy competition, says the new star from the Kapoor Clan Armaan Jain will soon make his acting debut with newcomer Deeksha Seth with first-time director Arif Ali’s “Lekar Hum Deewana Dil”. As the number of fresh faces in Bollywood continue to rise, he wishes them all luck. “There are a lot of youngsters……

  • PICS: Jewellery Show

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    Bulbeer Gandhi with Karisma Kapoor inaugrating Glamour during the inauguration of Glamour Jewellery Exhibition 2014 at Palladium Hotel in Mumbai 

  • Language war brewing in the South

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    Tamil Nadu parties, including BJP allies, oppose Hindi  All major political parities in Tamil Nadu, including two BJP allies, Friday came out strongly against the government order to use Hindi in social media, branding it “Hindi imposition”. A day after the DMK cried foul, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the…

  • GALLERY – Assam Festival

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    People participate in a cultural procession taken out to mark Bishnu Rabha Divas in Guwahati