culture
The "original and thrilling": The Booker Prizes announces 2023 longlist
The novels are small revolutions, each seeking to energise and awaken the language. Together, they offer startling portraits of the current.
Growing up surrounded by music
All in all, music is pretty significant in my life nonetheless.
A personal quest to explore the core essence of ‘Bengaliness’
We Bengalis are very much part of a collectivist society, where ‘private’ matters are communal, and everyone can have some opinions about ‘other’s business. We describe that as our own unique way of looking after each other and maintaining ‘social well beings’.
Academics, book reviews commemorate Abul Mansur Ahmad
"Without the practice of literature and study of history, no civilization has progressed much", Professor Serajul Islam Choudhury said in his closing speech.
5 places to visit to see Michelangelo’s paintings and sculptures
Michelangelo’s paintings and sculptures display a unique intensity, physical realism and psychological understanding. As one of the most influential Renaissance artists, his famous works include The Pietà (1499) and David (1501) which were the first to attract attention when the Italian artist was in his 20s. His ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel solidified his fame and immortalised him. Here are some places to visit to see some of his famous work:
What it means to be cultured
The concept of being “cultured” has no objective truth to it, and is completely subjective.
Pahela Falgun, Valentine's Day: A fusion of love, culture, and fashion
For the last few years, we have been celebrating Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day on the same date. Hence 14th is all about expressing your love and having a good time.
The deal with our love for bargaining
At this point, it's fair to say bargaining has been ingrained into our culture.
ESSAY / Ghosts in Bangla literature and culture
“Bhoot”, the Bangla word for ghost, derives from the Sanskrit word Bhūta, referring to living beings and the past. Later, it also came to mean ‘disembodied spirit.’ Ghost stories carry a special tradition in Bangla literature and the root lies in folklore and rural culture.
FEATURE: Life lessons in an artist’s haunting “3D” mosquito nets
Consider the humble mosquito net. It’s the cheapest and the most effective way to fend off malaria. But what about mosquito netting as high art?
FEATURE: To be the world's strongest kid
It’s a sweltering Sunday afternoon outside the Oil and Gas Discovery Centre as a crowd gathers to line a narrow stretch of road in Seria.
FEATURE: Asia's big nosh
It might seem that the beginning of the year is all about movies with various guilds lining up to reward their favourite films and actors but it's also the time when the food industry celebrates its own by announcing “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants”.
When the gates of hell open
This year, on August 28th - the 15th day of the 7th month in the lunar calendar - it is Yu Lan festival in Hong Kong, also known as Hungry Ghost Festival
Crossing divide
A man and a woman from two different countries can make a happy family if they respect each other's culture and values.
Pitha galore this winter
Bangladeshi winters mean weddings, steaming plates of biriyani drenched in ghee with soft potatoes, cozy sweaters gathering dust and smell of naphthalene balls in your cupboard, badminton games in your neighbourhood, warm warm blankets, monkey caps and of course the pièce de résistance of winter—Pithas.
An evening at Nantang Block
A walk around the historical block of Nantang, in Ningbo of China to get a glimpse of the weekend activities of the local people, and to try out some of their traditional delicacies.
Taj Mahal chandelier crash investigation ordered
The Indian authorities order an inquiry into why a chandelier hanging at the entrance of the country's most famous monument, the Taj Mahal, crashed to the ground earlier this week.
Opinion: Is this rule of law?
Human rights leaders are blaming the long pervasive culture of impunity as one of the major reasons for the gruesome killings of children and bloggers.
Bangladesh, Vietnam eye extending ties in security
President Abdul Hamid today meets his Vietnam counterpart Truong Tan Sang and discusses security, connectivity, trade, investment, tourism and culture.
