9 months ago
With Tamil Tigers gone, Sri Lanka opens the Ramayana trail for Indians
Ella -, July 23 - With a quarter-century of ethnic conflict and terrorism in Sri Lanka left behind, the island nation, known for its sun-kissed beaches and rolling tea gardens, is wooing Indian tourists like never before by developing a Ramayana trail to enable them to visit the Lanka of demon king Ravana. The Sri Lankan tourism department has identified about 50 sites that are said to be connec ... read more

1 year ago
'Ramayana most popular performing art in Bangladesh'
Agra, March 17 - In the green hinterland of Islamic Bangladesh, the Ramayana is the most popular performing art form, says a leading playwright of the country. The Indian epic exists in harmony with Sufism and a variety of indigenous folk arts like the Pir Gaan -, Gazi Gaan -, Gazir Pail -, Behular Nach - and Paddar Nach -, says Saymon Zakaria. 'At least eight versions of the Ramayana, mostly ... read more

1 year ago
Deepa Mehta's 'Heaven on Earth' premieres at Toronto fest
Toronto, Sep 7 - Canada-based Indian filmmaker Deepa Mehta's 'Heaven on Earth', her Punjabi production about domestic violence in the immigrant community here, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Mehta was in attendance with her whole cast, including Preity Zinta for the screening Saturday. Before the start of the film, she introduced the cast to the audience and also said that ... read more

Jaipur | 3 years ago
Man walks on burning coal to prove innocence
Jaipur, April 17 - In a bid to prove his innocence after being accused of killing a goat, a tribal man walked on blazing coal in a village in Rajasthan.Hundreds of people Sunday witnessed the 'trial by fire' of Narsaram Garasiya of Gaonfali village in Upla Khejda panchayat of Sirohi district, over 400 km from here, local media reports said. Garasiya was accused of killing a neighbour's goat with ... read more

New Delhi | 3 years ago
Foreign artistes play key roles in Ramlila
New Delhi, Oct 1 - For the first time an American girl is playing a key role in 'Ramlila', a ballet based on the epic Ramayana, at the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra here. Keeping her company are two Bangladeshis, an Indonesian and a Mongolian. These students of theatre, in their early 20s, are on an exchange programme in India.For over four decades, the Kendra has been giving newer interpretations ... read more

Jaipur | 3 years ago
150 men sustain burns in test by fire
Jaipur, Sep 17 - As many as 150 men were made to dip their hand in burning oil in Rajasthan to nail the culprit who had stolen foodgrain.According to media reports, following a theft in a school in Ranpur, 300 km from here, a local panchayat in Pratapgarh ordered the suspects to dip their hands in burning oil. 82 kg of rice was stolen.'Agni Pariksha' - finds reference in Hindu mythology.A huge tum ... read more

Mumbai | 3 years ago
Santoshi all set for film on Ramayana
Mumbai, June 23 - Even as versatile director Raj Kumar Santoshi puts together his Ajay Devgan-Priyanka Chopra project 'London Dreams', he is already planning to make a big screen adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana.'I am doing a large-screen version of the Ramayana. It won't be just another mythological interpretation of the often-repeated tale,' Santoshi told IANS. 'My 'Ramayana' will present ... read more