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Divine Splendour of Attukal Pongala

Attukal Pongala:  The year 2026 raced through with so many unexpected milestones, the most significant one being the opportunity to offer Attukal Pongala. What began as a family get-together culminated in a precious and most beautiful blessing from Devi or Bhagawathy, as we Malayalis refer to the Divine Mother. As my humblest offering to Attukal Devi, I offer this writing to Bhagawathy , with a prayer that may more and more women from all walks of life find joy and fulfilment through offering Attukal Pongala year after year. May their joy multiply! [READ: Conversations with my Mother  and  Amazing Tale of Peddabottu ] What is the Story Behind Attukal Pongala?  The Attukal Pongala festival celebrates and honours the life of Kannaki , who is said to be a real life heroine whose tragedy is documented in the Tamil epic, Silapathikaram . The story is that an angry Kannaki's wrath upon Madurai over the merciless and unjust execution of her husband Kovalan, following which ...
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Best Christmas Greetings Messages

Want to check out some best messages for Christmas? There's something magical and instantly playful about Christmas. As Helen Steiner Rice says, "Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day."                                              [Image: Toni Cuenca @ Pexels.com] Sending Christmas greetings and messages is a beautiful way to let your friends and loved ones feel special. So, wondering how to wish Merry Christmas in a short way? Wondering what is a simple sentence for a Christmas card?                                    [Image: Oleksandr Pidvalnyi @ Pixabay]   How do you write a heartfelt Christmas message?  If you were wondering how do you write a simple Christmas wish, this post is for you. Here's how to write Merry Christmas in an easy way:...
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Korean Instant Noodle Consumption Second Highest in the World

Who doesn't love noodles? Koreans rank as no 2 globally for instant noodles consumption! According to World Noodle Organisation, Korea is ranked the second largest consumer of instant noodles, after Vietnam. This trend raises health concerns but experts suggest that adding vegetables and other ingredients can address the drawbacks of consuming refined carbohydrates and salty soup. Those who are prediabetic are advised to add an egg whenever they eat noodles.  [READ: This Korean Bestseller Opens a New Window]                                               [Source:  ikhsan baihaqi  @ Unsplash] What Makes Instant Ramen Noodles Popular? Worldwide, Ramen noodles are popular as it is delicious, easy to customise according to regional preferences and most importantly, you can prepare it in few minutes. Most spicy Korean instant noodles are enjoyed in different p...
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Korean Pet Travel: Must-Know Rules from Korea Tourism Organization

                                               [Image:  Anna Evlanova  on Unsplash] Latest news from Korea Tourism Organization: Pet-friendly travel norms for Korean travellers! According to a comprehensive report released by the Korea Tourism Organization, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, new guidelines have been issued to help travellers manage their pets while on the move. [READ: This Korean Bestseller Opens a New Window] Earlier, in 2022, six cities in Korea had been designated as pet-friendly destinations. The latest guidelines provide the much anticipated impetus for travellers and the pet industry to work alongside local authorities to executue the new guidelines for greater impact.                                        ...
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Poland's FIRST Library in a Metro Station

Good news for book lovers as Poland scripts history! Warsaw scripts history as its first-ever underground library offers over 16,000 books for readers to borrow. [For all posts on Books & Culture, subscribe to Svara's Newsletter]                                                                                 [Image:  Adam Borkowski   on Unsplash] Circling back to Warsaw's underground library, known as "Metroteka", this is the first of its kind launched in September 2025 at one of the metro stations. On the first day, almost 400 books were tagged for borrowing. A self-service system has been enabled through scanners to simplify the borrowing and returning of books by librar members.                           ...
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Japan's Century Club is booming!

Wow, Sanae Takaichi is all set to become Japan's first female prime minister! Let me confess: Japan, the world's fourth-largest economy, has always fascinated me, right from the time I've been reading History books.  And that is why it caught my attention when I read that the country's number of centenarians have hit a record high of nearly 100,000, with 88% being women!  When I was growing up, there used to be a Japanese serial aired on Doordarshan called "Oshin." A gateway to Japanese culture and life. This Japanese serial opened up a new world for me.  [READ: Why Japanese fiction is quickly becoming my favourite]                                       [Image:  Tomáš Malík  @ Unsplash]   Watching this Japanese serial, I savoured the famed  Japanese Tea Ceremony, where every movement filled itself with grace and poise and taught me that something as simple as...
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Vietnam's $25 Million Tourist Target

Vietnam tourism soars high! Latest news reports indicate that Vietnam is poised to see a tremendous surge in the number of tourists who visit year after year.                                                  [Image: Marina Lobato @Unsplash] Year after year, Vietnam receives around 13.9 million tourists as per news reports. In 2025, Vietnam eyes 2.75 million tourists per month for the rest of the year. [READ: Vietnam Travel Made Easy] As a travel and culure enthusiast, I've been to Vietnam, and trust me, it’s an absolutely stunning and picturesque travel destination! The country is a kaleidoscope of vibrant history, cultural facets and picturesque landscapes. I’m already dreaming of visiting Vietnam again and again!                                         [ Image: Ha...
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