Xenoglossy, when past speaks through present
The article examines the phenomenon of xenoglossy through the remarkable case of Uttara Huddar, a Marathi-speaking woman who developed a secondary personality named Sharada. Sharad…
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Author
Pradeep Nair
26 articles · Page 2 of 3
Whistling village, where people are known by tunes
In the village of Kongthong, Meghalaya, residents follow the unique *Jingrwai Iawbei* tradition, where every individual is assigned a unique musical tune at birth to serve as their…
Vettuvan Koil, the upside down wonder
Vettuvan Koil is an 8th-century monolithic temple in Tamil Nadu, India, that was uniquely carved from a single granite rock using a top-down construction method. Often called the "…
Umngot River: Boats 'float' in air
The Umngot River in Meghalaya, India, is famous for its extraordinary water clarity, which creates the illusion of boats floating mid-air. Although it serves as a vital economic an…
Thimithi, firewalking ritual
Thimithi is a Hindu ritual, rooted in the Mahabharata, where devotees walk barefoot across blazing coals to demonstrate purity or fulfill religious vows. Primarily practiced in Tam…
Sati handprints
Located within Jodhpur's Mehrangarh Fort, the gilded "Sati marks" near the Loha Pol gate serve as a somber memorial to royal widows who practiced Sati, the tradition of self-immola…
Roopkund: The skeleton lake
Roopkund Lake in the Indian Himalayas contains the remains of 600 to 800 people who died during multiple events spanning nearly a thousand years. Recent DNA studies have added to t…
Qila Raipur Rural Olympics
The Qila Raipur Sports Festival, popularly known as the "Rural Olympics," is an annual event in Punjab, India, featuring unique displays of strength and regulated bullock cart race…
Piplantri: One girl, 111 saplings
In Piplantri, Rajasthan, the community plants 111 saplings for every newborn girl, a tradition that has transformed the once-barren landscape into a lush, green oasis. This "eco-fe…
Om Banna Temple
The Om Banna Temple in Rajasthan, India, is a unique shrine dedicated to a Royal Enfield motorcycle believed to house the spirit of Om Singh Rathore. Following Rathore's mysterious…
Nidhivan, the mystical forest
Nidhivan is a sacred forest in Vrindavan, India, where legend holds that Tulasi trees transform into Gopis every night to join Radha and Krishna in a divine dance. Due to the fores…
Malana: Don't touch the villagers
Malana is a village in Himachal Pradesh, India, that follows an ancient governance system ruled by the deity Jamlu Devta. To maintain community purity, residents enforce a strict "…