REGAL REMINISCENCES ON MAHARANA PRATAP JAYANTI

June 17, 2022

The life and legend of Maharana Pratap has gained admirable distinction in the history of Rajputana for the strong display of valour and virtue against Mughal expansionism. His birth anniversary is celebrated with abundant enthusiasm and a strong flavour of patriotism at diverse venues across India. This year, Maharana Pratap...

ODISHA’S TALCHER PALACE GETS STAMPED IN POSTAL ARCHIVES

April 15, 2022

India’s first adhesive stamp, known as the ‘Scinde Dawk’, was introduced in 1852 by Sir Bartle Frere, the Commissioner of Sindh. The production of Indian postage stamps came into the regular curriculum soon after, and the first set of stamps valid for postage throughout the country were placed on sale...

SIDDHARTH DASPAN TURNS HIS FAMILY HOME INTO A HAVEN FOR CULTURAL CONNOISSEURS

November 26, 2021

Every once in a while there are nights that make you fall in love with a city. At Daspan House Jodhpur, such nights seem to come one after the other courtesy of the Soapbox Initiative — a series of artistic collaborations discerningly curated by its young and ever-so-gracious owner Thakur...

PRINCESS GAURAVI CURATES FUNDRAISER FOR PRINCESS DIYA KUMARI FOUNDATION

October 29, 2021

In 1876, when the Prince of Wales Albert Edward (later known as Edward VII) visited Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh Ji II organised an eclectic display of arts and crafts at ‘Baadal Mahal’ to introduce his royal guests to the handcrafted treasures of the pink city. Today, the same ‘Baadal...

DISCOVERING UNHEARD OF FABLES AT ROYAL FABLES

September 17, 2021

Exploring the illustrious legacy of princely India, Royal Fables - the brainchild of journalist, publicist, and craft crusader Anshu Khanna - has been passionately promoting traditional workmanship burgeoning inside the royal and noble residences of the Indian sub-continent for more than a decade. As the country’s much-loved heritage exposition culminated...

CELEBRATING RATH YATRA WITH THE ROYALS OF ODISHA

July 16, 2021

My earliest memories of the Rath Yatra take me back to childhood, when I watched the live telecast on Doordarshan each year, tucked cosily between my grandparents. The magnanimity of the chariot festival never ceased to amaze my curious little mind even after repeated views every twelve months. This annual...

DISCOVERING THE ‘ROYAL HERITAGE OF ODISHA’ THROUGH THE LENS OF A BUREAUCRAT

June 18, 2021

From the chiselled finesse of the rock-cut caves at Udaygiri and Khandagiri to the sculpted splendour of the Sun Temple at Konark, the architectural marvels scattered across Odisha have continued to bear testimony to the dexterity of the local craftsmen for centuries. While religious influences encouraged an impressive array of...

REMEMBERING HEMENDRA SINGH JI OF BANERA

June 4, 2021

Three months ago, I shared a vintage photograph on Instagram of Rajkumar Pratap Singh Ji of Banera along with his best friend, my great-grandfather Rawat Jai Singh Ji of Meja from their days at Mayo College, Ajmer. My caption read, “The foundation of the Banera-Meja bond which was laid by...

CELEBRATING THE FESTIVAL OF GANGAUR

April 16, 2021

Ever since I shifted to my ancestral village, Meja, a few years ago after a long stint in Mumbai, I began to realise that one of the best things about residing in rural Rajasthan in the scorching heat of April is that you get to witness the fortnight-long festivities of...

REVIVING THE GLORY OF POLO IN MEWAR

March 26, 2021

On 25 December 2020, the rustic roads leading to the sleepy village of Bujra near Udaipur suddenly buzzed with action. A convoy of cars could be seen ferrying excited patrons to the Chunda Polo Club. As the players enthusiastically took on their opponents for the Bedla Cup, constant cheers of...