Government of India
Adalaj Stepwell, Ahmedabad
Amer Fort, Jaipur
Ancient Manuscript of India
Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa
Bhangra, a folk dance of Punjab
Chariot Wheel at Sun Temple, Konark
Chham, Mask Dance, Ladakh
Damaru, a small two-headed drum
Duttapara Navaratna Temple at Joypur, West Bengal
Ganga aarti at Varanasi
Holi, the festival of colours
Kalbelia, traditional folk dance of Rajasthan
Kantha embroidery, Bengal
Karsha Monastery, Ladakh
Kathakali, a dance form of Kerala
Kuchipudi, a classical dance form of India
Kutch embroidery (Gujarat)
Kutch Mud Work, traditional art work of Gujarat
Maitreya Buddha statue at Nubra Valley, Leh
Manipuri food
Markandeya Purana manuscript
Mithila Painting, Bihar
Musicians playing the been, a wind instrument
National Archives of India Library
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Panchratha, Mahabalipuram
Pattachitra, a traditional painting of Odisha
Pung Dhol Cholam, Manipur
Puppetry, a folk tradition of Rajasthan
Rangoli made using flowers
Rudra Veena, a classical string instrument
Sculpture of Shakyamuni Buddha
Tantric Mandala of Buddhist Pantheons
Traditional Angami Naga Festival
View of the Secretariat buildings during constructions, New Delhi
Vijaya Vittala Temple, Hampi
Categories
Freedom Archive
Did You Know?
26 JUNE JIWAJIRAO SCINDIA (1916 to 1961)
Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia was the last reigning ruler of the Gwalior State in Central India. Born on 26 June 1916, Jiwajirao was a scion of the Scindia family. Crowned Maharaja on 05 June 1925, he is remembered as the king who developed modern railroads in Gwalior. The Scindia family ruled Gwalior until India's independence from the British in 1947 when the reigning Maharaja Jiwajirao acceded to the Government of India. Gwalior was merged with a number of other princely states to become the new Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Jiwajirao served as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh from 1948 to 1956. He passed away on 16 July 1961. The HH Scindia Museum at Jai Vilas Fort was built in memory of Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia.
Stories
Lord Padmanabha and His Dasas
This story recounts the history of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple and the Royal Family of Travancore associated with it.
The Jagannath Temple - Puri
The Jagannath Temple in Puri is one of the ‘Char Dhams’ in Hindu tradition. It is home to Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balbhadra.
Delhi Durbars
The Delhi Durbars were grand events organised by the Viceroys of India to mark the coronation of Emperors or Empresses of Britain. Hence, these were also known as the Coronation Durbars.
Simla: The Summer Capital
Far from home, the British recreated a ‘little England’ tucked away in the Himalayan foothills. Simla was pulled from obscurity and made the summer Capital of one of England’s largest colonies, India.
Sanchi Monument: A Rediscovery
This story narrates the history of the Sanchi monuments from the time of its discovery by British colonial officials at the beginning of the 19th century.
Gandhi's Satyagraha in Champaran
This story revolves around the oppressive tinkathia system of Indigo cultivation in Champaran and Gandhiji’s Satyagraha to help the peasants.
Indigo Revolt in Bengal
This story deals with the system of indigo cultivation in Bengal, the exploitation of the Indian peasants and their bidroha against the oppressive European planters.
Begum Hazrat Mahal: The Revolutionary Queen of Awadh
Begum Hazrat Mahal was one of the few women who challenged the British during the Revolt of 1857.
Delhi: Capital of British India
This story talks about the factors around which Delhi was chosen as the Capital of erstwhile India in the year 1911, and the role of architects Edward Lutyens and Herbert Baker.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre took place on 13th April, 1919. It led to the killing of hundreds of unarmed Indians by General Dyer, a senior British military officer in the heart of Amritsar.
Koh-i-Noor
The Koh-i-Noor is amongst the most celebrated gems in the world. It was taken from India under the terms of the Last Treaty of Lahore, signed in 1839. After being shaped and cut by the British, it now weighs 105.6 Carat.
Bahadur Shah Zafar
The last emperor of the Mughal Empire and the prominent face of India's first war of independence.
Karva Chauth
Karva Chauth is a festival celebrated annually by married Hindu women in which they observe a fast from sunrise to moonrise and pray for the well-being of their husbands.
Rath Yatra, Puri
The Rath Yatra(Chariot festival) is one of the grandest festivals celebrated at the Jagannath Temple in Puri.This commemorates the annual visit of Lord Jagannath along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra to their aunt’s house. Gundicha.
Dara Shikoh
This story traces the life and spiritual leanings of Dara Shikoh, the heir apparent to the Mughal throne (after Emperor Shah Jahan) who met a tragic end at the hands of his brother Aurangzeb after a bloody war of succession.
Bali Yatra
Bali Yatra, a festival that commemorates the rich maritime history of Odisha is celebrated throughout the state. In the historic city of Cuttack, a week-long event is organised starting from the day of Kartika Purnima.
Soulful Sivasagar
Sivasagar, in Eastern Assam, is a city of historical and cultural significance, which also showcases nature's beauty. It served as the seat of power for the Ahoms, and contains important monuments from the era.
Bithoor, Uttar Pradesh
A small town on the banks of River Ganga, near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Bithoor is a place of great religious and historical importance.
Begums of Bhopal: 107 Years of Golden Reign
Step into the captivating history of the four queens who ruled in succession. Begums of Bhopal were known to be competent rulers as they redefined the city of Bhopal and maintained respectable relations with the British
The Life of Sant Kabir Das
The story of a 15th century poet-saint whose social and spiritual ideas were communicated through his poetry and continue to inspire even now.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railways: A Passage through Time
During the 19th century, till the time the Northern Bengal State Railway extended its operation to Siliguri in 1879, the journey from Calcutta to Darjeeling was a daunting one.
Dakshina Meru : The Brihadeswara Temple
This story is based on the World’s first all granite temple, the Brihadeswara Temple at Tanjavur. The pride of Rajaraja Chola I, built almost 1000 years ago, this temple is the best example of precision and symmetry in architecture.
From Sadir Attam to Bharatanatyam
This story focuses on the Devadasi system of Tamil Nadu and how the dance form, Bharatanatyam evolved from what was earlier known as Sadir Attam.
Bombay – The Joining of the Seven Islands (1668-1838)
This story is about how a group of 7 islands were joined together in the 17th century to form the island city of Mumbai. The narrative goes into the discussions between the Bombay government and the Company’s directors in London that shaped this city.
Temples Of Khajuraho
This story makes an in-depth exploration of the architecture of the temples of Khajuraho. It provides a detailed understanding of the layout and art of the various individual structures comprising the three major groups of temples at Khajuraho- the Western, Eastern and the Southern groups.
Durga Puja
This story on Durga puja explores life that revolves around this grand celebration. From mythological stories to idol making as well as pandal creation, this story takes you through the days devoted to Maa Durga.
Parsi Theatre in Bombay
This story traces the history of Parsi theatre in Mumbai from the 19th century. It also talks about the people and the iconic structures that were associated with the staging of the plays.
Cave Temples of Mumbai - A Slice of the City’s Past
This story explores the cave temples that presently stand in the busy suburbs of Mumbai, Maharashtra. It details the spread of Buddhism and Hinduism in this area and pushes the antiquity of this city well back to the 2nd century BC.
Looted, Recovered, and Awaited: Stories of India's Stolen Antiques
A large number of antiques and valuable artefacts have been stolen from and smuggled out of India in the past years.
Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee
I will tell the Viceroy and the Governor-General of India that Ashutosh Mukherjee refuses to be commanded by any other person except his mother, be he Viceroy or somebody higher still
External Links (Ministry of Culture)
Ministry Of Culture Organisations
Recognizing the ongoing need to position itself for the digital future, Indian Culture is an initiative by the Ministry of Culture. A platform that hosts data of cultural relevance from various repositories and institutions all over India.
Indian Culture App
The Indian Culture Portal is a part of the National Virtual Library of India project, funded by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The portal has been created and developed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Data has been provided by organisations of the Ministry of Culture.