Explore Ancient India

                                                  Plate  1 - Cork Image of Goddess  Biṣaharῑ. (Courtesy: https://images.app.goo.gl/DxmLgdswLfrRFYaW6 )   Plate  2 - Earthen Sculpture of Goddess  Biṣaharῑ. (Courtesy: https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/bengali-style-maa-manasa-devi-2853469678288.html ) Author - Biswarup Chatterjee. Abstract: This article explores the traditional worship of Biṣaharῑ, a local manifestation of the snake goddess Manasā, among the Rajbanshi community of North Bengal, particularly in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar. Biṣaharῑ, also known as Padma, is revered as a household deity and is closely linked to the region’s folk religious practices and cultural heritage. The article delineates the forms of Biṣaharῑ worship Kāni-Biṣaharῑ and Gῑdālῑ-Biṣaharῑ highlighting their social significance, seasonal observance, and r...

  Author – Biswarup Chatterjee                                                                     Plate No. 1                India has long been celebrated as a land of cultural and traditional vibrancy, exemplified through its conventional arts, crafts, artifacts, sculptures, and heritage. Each state and union territory across the country showcases a distinct cultural identity, beautifully expressed through diverse forms of folk art. Every region of the Indian subcontinent is enriched with its own folk traditions, artistic patterns, and heritage. Indian folk art is notably ethnic, colorfu...

Author - Biswarup Chatterjee         The remote and mystic land of Tibet, often termed the Forbidden Land, is home to a unique tapestry of spiritual beliefs and ceremonial practices that govern life and death alike. Among its most compelling and culturally distinctive traditions are its funerary customs, which reflect a deep-rooted Buddhist worldview, shaped by the philosophy of impermanence, rebirth, and the pancha bhuta or five-element theory. These customs—such as sky burials, celestial and earthly interments, and the ritual mummification of revered lamas—not only demonstrate the Tibetans' profound spiritual detachment from the body but also their perception of death as a natural transition rather than a final end.           The article explores these diverse rites in detail, drawing from historical accounts, travelers’ observations, and Tibetan religious practices. It reveals how religion, culture, geography, and cosmology converge t...