Author: Sweetlena Mandal

Ten Days. Sixteen Tribes. One Epic Beat, Hornbill Festival Unplugged There is a December magic that sweeps over Nagaland’s hills, louder than Christmas carols, brighter than fairy lights, and more uninhibited than any winter party you have been to. It starts with a beat. A drumbeat that thunders across the green valleys, summoning adventurers, storytellers, musicians, and dreamers. And before you even realize it, you know the Hornbill Festival has begun. (Image courtesy: Scroll) Hosted every December at Kisama village in Kohima, Hornbill is not a festival but an introduction of Nagaland to the world of who and what exactly…

A Smile Beyond Time: The Day Bollywood’s Beloved Comedian Said Goodbye There are goodbyes that are the end of an era; quiet, subtle, and yet so heavily weighty. The passing away of Govardhan Asrani, at the age of 84, is one such day. Bollywood bid farewell to one of its finest actors on October 20, 2025, in the night, a few hours after he had shared his Diwali wishes on Instagram. His last message was full of light, laughter, and festive cheer. It’s kind of poetry; the man who stored millions of smiles in his purse waving goodbye with a…

A Symphony in Flame: How Candlelight Concerts Are Changing India’s Nights You know that sense of when the lights go down, the hum of chatter disappears, and a solitary note pierces the blackness like a heartbeat? That’s the magic of a Candlelight Concert, where music doesn’t just play, it breathes. (Image courtesy: thgim) Imagine this: a hall filled with a thousand flickering candles, their glow tracing every face with gold. A pianist begins to play the opening bars of Kun Faya Kun, and suddenly, silence turns sacred. You are no longer in a hotel ballroom or an auditorium; you are…

Zombies on Okhla Streets? Welcome to India’s First Halloween Parade! Gather ’round, ghosties and ghouls, and lend an ear (or whatever appendage you bring with you), because this Halloween, Delhi is going to be haunted in style. In India for the first time, a Halloween parade is sweeping over the capital, threatening to blend chills, thrills, and more candy than your pillowcase can contain. Diwali lights, step aside, October is receiving a brand-new star. (Image courtesy: lifestyleasia) The Venue: HorrorCon 2025: A Spook-Haunted Playground Set your calendars: October 25–26, 2025, the NSIC Exhibition Ground, Gate 6, Okhla, Delhi. That’s where…

From Mumbai to Jaipur: The Most Exciting Diwali Events & Experiences of 2025 Oh, Diwali! The festival that lights up India, both literally and emotionally! From the faint glow of diyas in small towns to the elaborately gargantuan light shows in the belly of metropolises, Diwali is easily the most anticipated festival of the year. Yes, there is candy, firecrackers, and consumerism added to the mix, but at its heart, Diwali is about lovely family, thanks, and memories that will outlast the smoldering candles. In India, rituals change, but in all of them is laughter; the family laughter, the friendly…

13 Inspiring Motivational Speakers from Kerala Changing How We See Life In a state where monsoons compose verses on palm leaves and backwaters murmur their soft rhythm, creativity is native, it’s in the blood. Kerala has created a unique type of thinker and dreamer for centuries, men and women who talk little of change but do it, period. From classrooms to auditoriums, from magic tricks to marathon routes, the state has given birth to voices that move your heart, ignite your mind, and whisper in your ear, “You can.” They are not the typical “five steps to success” motivational speakers.…

Beyond Awards: How Abhishek Bachchan and Shoojit Sircar Immortalized a Winner’s Story It was one of those nights when Bollywood sparkled a little brighter. Flashbulbs flickered, black tuxedos gleamed, and the chatter at the 70th Filmfare Awards buzzed with predictions. Then, as the golden envelope was torn open, came the words that sent a murmur through the crowd: (Image courtesy: ytimg) “And the Filmfare Award for Best Actor goes to… Abhishek Bachchan for I Want To Talk!” In that single moment, something shifted, not just for Bachchan, but for every storyteller who believes in films that speak from the heart,…

Lights, Bass, Action: 7 Blasting World Famous Musicians & Artists Performing Across India 2025–26 Imagine this. A filled stadium. The vibration of thousands of voices swelling like electricity in the air. The earth shakes beneath your feet, not because an earthquake hit but because bass lines pounding through walls. One spotlight pierces the night. This is not a fantasy, this is India in 2025 and 2026, where the world’s most dynamic artists are waiting to make our cities music heavens. (Image courtesy: tripzilla) We are talking rap fire, Latin charm, R&B nostalgia, K-Pop theatrics, rock rebellion, and genre-bending anthems. This…

Bold Voices Bright Futures Indian Female Authors Leading with Stories If you ever had a book land in your lap at just the right moment, you know the magic I speak of. Books don’t simply fill pages, they change lives. They crack open doors to possibilities when you’re trapped, offer you courage when yours is gone, and remind you that you are not alone. And in a world that still far too often instructs women to be silent, it’s revolutionary to read words from women who won’t tone down their voices. These female authors don’t just inspire, nay, they provoke,…

India’s Pop-Rap King Drops 51 Tracks and Breaks the Internet When the clock strikes comeback o’clock in Indian music, only one name has the audacity to drop something as outrageous, as over-the-top, and as unapologetically loud as Yo Yo Honey Singh. This isn’t just a return to form, it’s an explosion, a firework show set to beats, and a reminder that India’s original pop-rap king never really left the building. (Image courtesy: lifestyleasia) Honey Singh’s new project, “51 Glorious Days,” is exactly what the title promises, fifty-one tracks that stretch across moods, genres, and memories. It’s not just an album,…