Wednesday Edition

The volcanic history of New Zealand is written in layers of ash, scoria, and deeply held cultural narratives. Among the various peaks that define the Taupō Volcanic Zone, Mount Tarawera stands as a singular monument to the duality of natural beauty and catastrophic power. Known to the Māori as the “Burnt Peak” or “Burnt Spear,” Tarawera’s history is not merely a chronicle of geological events but a complex tapestry of spiritual warnings, ancestral guardianship, and the eventual destruction of one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. The eruption of June 10, 1886, remains the deadliest volcanic event in the post-European history of New Zealand, a disaster that was, according to local legend, heralded by an unmistakable spectral omen: the phantom canoe of Lake Tarawera.

The Hinglaj Mata Temple, nestled in the desolate yet awe-inspiring mountain ranges of the Hingol National Park in Balochistan, represents a singular intersection of profound spirituality, geological marvel, and cross-cultural heritage. Known locally as Nani Mandir or Bibi Nani, the shrine is not merely a religious destination for the Hindu minority but is a site of shared reverence that bridges the deep theological divides between the Hindu and Muslim communities of the region. As one of the fifty-one primary Shakti Peethas of the Hindu tradition, the temple holds a paramount status in the Shaktism denomination, believed to be the spot where the Brahmarandhra, or the crown of the head, of the goddess Sati fell after her body was dismembered by the god Vishnu. This article explores the multifaceted identity of Hinglaj Mata, examining its mythological foundations, its historical evolution from the pre-Islamic era to the modern day, the unique geomorphological landscape that defines its setting, and the contemporary socio-political initiatives that have seen it elevated to a global tourism site in 2025.

The art of quilling, historically referred to as paper filigree, paper scrolling, or mosaic, represents a sophisticated intersection of material science, artistic expression, and historical upcycling. It is a form of handmade art that involves the meticulous manipulation of thin strips of paper—rolling, coiling, curling, and twisting—which are then shaped and bonded with adhesives to form intricate three-dimensional designs. While the contemporary revival of quilling has transformed it into a medium for high-end typography, wearable jewellery, and architectural miniatures, its roots are deeply embedded in religious devotion and socio-economic adaptation across multiple centuries. The name itself is a historical artifact, derived from the goose feather quills originally used by nuns and monks to roll the paper strips. This article provides an exhaustive analysis of quilling’s historical trajectory, its technical foundations, the engineering of specialised tools, and the emerging trends defining the medium in the mid-2020s.

The architectural phenomenon of the pagoda represents one of the most sophisticated syntheses of religious devotion, aesthetic refinement, and structural engineering in human history. As a central fixture of the East Asian landscape, the pagoda serves as a vertical manifestation of the Buddhist journey toward enlightenment, evolving from the simple earthen mounds of ancient India into the multi-tiered, earthquake-resistant towers that define the skylines of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. This structure is not merely an object of aesthetic appreciation; it is a repository of sacred relics, a map of the Buddhist cosmos, and a testament to the adaptive ingenuity of diverse cultures along the Silk Road.

The history of decorative arts is punctuated by efforts to capture the fleeting brilliance of light within the permanence of metal and stone. Among these endeavours, cloisonné stands as perhaps the most sophisticated synthesis of metallurgy, glasswork, and chemistry. The term cloisonné, derived from the French word cloison, meaning “partition” or “compartment,” refers to an ancient technique for decorating metalwork objects with colored vitreous enamel or inlays of cut gemstones and glass. At its most fundamental level, the art form involves the creation of delicate metal enclosures upon a substrate—typically copper, silver, or gold—which are then filled with colored material and fused through intense heat. The resulting surface is a luminous mosaic where the structural metal wires remain visible, acting both as boundaries for the colour and as an integral part of the aesthetic design.

The Red Sandstone Escarpment

In the geological heart of the Deccan Plateau, where the arid landscape of northern Karnataka fractures into dramatic ravines and precipitous cliffs, lies the ancient settlement of Badami. Known in antiquity as Vatapi or Vatapipuri, this site represents one of the most significant confluences of geology, theology, and political ambition in the history of the Indian subcontinent. Carved into the amygdaloidal red sandstone of the Kaladgi basin—a geological formation that imbues the landscape with a vibrant, ruddy hue reminiscent of almonds (badam), from which the modern name is likely derived—the Badami Cave Temples stand as the foundational monuments of the Early Western Chalukya dynasty.