Dear reader, The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi has recently been revamped. A shining new temple complex is all set to welcome Hindu pilgrims from across India. Unlike most other organised religions of the world, very little in Hinduism is all-encompassing. There is no one holy book, no single holy site or a religious leader. The devout north Indian Hindu for instance follow rituals and customs very different from his or her counterpart in the south. But Kashi is one place that ties up almost every strand and sect of Hinduism. What makes Kashi the ‘quintessential Hindu city’? Our story this week explores the many layers in Kashi to answer this question. Mythological texts would tell us that Kashi is the place where Shiva dwells. It is also the place where one is believed to find moksha or liberation. But mythology is both written and read in socio-political contexts. The Mughals, Marathas, Bengali zamindars, South Indian kingdoms like the Pallavas and Cholas as well as the British have together built up Kashi as the city most special to Hindu pilgrimage and sanctity. As we wrap up 2021 this week, Mira Patel looks back at the year as it unfolded for global climate change. The year was marked with climate disasters ranging from extreme wildfires in the American Southwest to record levels of flooding in Europe. In India, the situation is particularly concerning with nine out of ten most polluted cities in the world located within the country. This story looks at the many highs and lows of environmental policies made by governments across the world this year. Wishing you a very happy and prosperous new year. On the occasion, here’s a piece from our archives to look out for that explains how and why January 1 was chosen as the date to usher in a new year. Read the stories: Layer after layer, how Kashi became special to Hindus across the subcontinent What 2021 looked like for global climate change Why do we celebrate New Year on January 1?
Sincerely, Adrija Roychowdhury | 
No comments:
Post a Comment