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…
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A2Z challenge
37 articles · Page 3 of 4
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 "…
Living root bridges
Located in Meghalaya, India, living root bridges are unique biological structures grown over decades by guiding the aerial roots of rubber fig trees. Through a process called inosc…
L: Legolepsy
In this installment of her A–Z series, "The Vocabulary of Life," the author explores "logolepsy," an intense fascination with the sensory beauty and rhythm of words. Inspired by he…
Kodinhi, India's village of twins
Kodinhi, a village in Kerala, India, is famous for an exceptionally high rate of twin births that significantly exceeds the national average. Although scientists have investigated …
J: Juxtaposition
As part of her "Vocabulary of Life" series, the author explores the concept of "juxtaposition" by highlighting the contrast between her professional career and the messy reality of…
I: Ignotum
Inspired by her son’s wonder at seeing "stars" behind his closed eyes, the author introduces the term "Ignotum" to represent the hidden, internal magic we often overlook. While sci…
H: Hiraeth
As part of an A–Z series on untranslatable words, this post explores "Hiraeth," a Welsh term describing a profound longing for a past version of oneself or a home that no longer ex…
G: Glabella
Inspired by her toddler’s curiosity, the author explores the word "glabella"—the anatomical term for the space between the eyebrows—as part of her "Vocabulary of Life" A–Z series. …
F: Ferrule
Inspired by her toddler’s curiosity, the author explores the word "ferrule," the metal band that connects a pencil's graphite to its eraser. She uses this functional object as a me…
E: Echolalia
Inspired by their toddler’s rhythmic repetition of words, the author explores "echolalia" to highlight the musical and sensory qualities of language. The article serves as a remind…
D: Dactylonomy
Inspired by her toddler’s curiosity, the author explores "dactylonomy," the ancient practice of using fingers to count or express numbers. She describes this method as a vital sens…