‘Shitala How India enabled Vaccination’ by Mitra Desai – Book review
‘Shitala’, the book title, refers to Shitala Devi, a youthful goddess, depicted with a fan, broom and pot, riding a donkey (Vahana of Shitala Devi). ‘Shitala’ is a masterpiece on vaccination practices that prevailed in ancient India, penned by Ms Mitra Desi. This 97-page narrative historical non-fiction book is presented beautifully in simple language, backed […]
A Glimpse into the History and Grandeur of Erakesvara Temple in Pillalamarri, Suryapet, Telangana.
Away from the city hustle, three ancient temples dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries still stand majestically in the village of Pillalamarri, Suryapet district, Telangana (Note: Pillalamarri referenced here is not the same as the one located in Mahbubnagar district of Telangana). Before the formation of new districts in Telangana in 2016, Pillalamarri […]
From Ancient Rituals to Modern Stages: The Evolution of Perini Dance
Introduction: On the personal front, I witnessed Perini dance for the first time in the Ranga Mandapa of the renowned UNESCO heritage site in Telanaga, i.e., the Ramappa Temple. Through the sessions at the camp, I learned that there is a mention of this dance in the “Nr̥tta Ratnāvalī ” of Jaya Senani or Jayapa […]