Longer reads
Festival stories & guides
Helpful essays and practical guides — how to arrive prepared, what traditions mean, and how to take part with care.
A Visitor's Guide to Diwali
Lamps, family gatherings, and regional traditions — how to share Diwali without turning it into noise.
How to Experience Navratri Respectfully
Garba, fasting, and regional traditions — practical etiquette for nine nights of Navratri.
A First-Timer's Guide to Durga Puja
How to visit pandals respectfully: timing, crowds, photography, and what the festival means.
How to Attend a Classical Dance Festival for the First Time
A first-timer's guide to enjoying classical dance at Konark, from programme notes and seating to concert etiquette.
A First Visit to the Jaipur Literature Festival
Plan your first Jaipur Literature Festival visit with practical tips for sessions, crowds, books and conversations.
A First-Timer's Guide to Bathukamma
Learn what Bathukamma means, what visitors may see and how to join Telangana's floral celebrations respectfully.
How to Experience Chhath Parwa Respectfully
A practical guide to Chhath Parwa: riverside etiquette, offerings, photography and the meaning of dawn and dusk.
A Visitor's Guide to Kadalekai Parishe
Discover Kadalekai Parishe through its peanut stalls, temple traditions, street food and the bustle of Basavanagudi.
Inside a Festive Neighbourhood: A Day at Durga Puja in Kolkata
From quiet morning pandal visits to food stalls and evening crowds, follow the changing rhythm of Durga Puja across Kolkata.
From First Light to Evening Lamps: A Sensory Journey Through Chhath Parwa
Follow Chhath Parwa from the hush of dawn to the glow of lamps, with water, song, offerings and sunlight shaping the experience.