Manipur hosts first Northeast Waree Leeba Festival to preserve traditional storytelling
Manipur hosted the first Northeast Waree Leeba Festival in Imphal West, a five‑day event that began on 2 November 2026 to preserve Waree Leeba, a traditional storytelling art form. The festival is organised by the Repertory of Waree Leeba (ROWLM) in partnership with Irom Meijrao Women for Cultural Centre, welcoming artists from Manipur, Assam and Tripura. The aim is to promote Waree Leeba and strengthen cultural ties across the Northeast, while providing a platform for practitioners to share narratives, techniques and performance styles with younger generations.
festival began 2 November 2026 in Imphal West
aims to preserve Waree Leeba, a traditional storytelling art
ROWLM and Irom Meijrao Women for Cultural Centre organizers
participants from Manipur, Assam and Tripura
promotes cross‑state cultural exchange and heritage visibility
Collins Dictionary names mogging as Word of the Year 2026
Collins Dictionary has named mogging as the Word of the Year 2026. The slang term means to shine or outdo someone else and saw a 210 percent rise in usage in 2026, especially among Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Collins notes that the selection reflects evolving language influenced by social media and online culture. Mogging captures the emphasis on presence, performance and self‑presentation in contemporary life, illustrating how youth communication continues to shape everyday speech and popular discourse around success and visibility.
mogging named Word of the Year 2026 by Collins
means to outshine or outdo others
210% rise in usage in 2026
popular among Gen Z and Gen Alpha
reflects shifts in online language and culture
Nov 03, 2026
Shilp Samagam Mela begins at Dilli Haat, showcases artisans
The Shilp Samagam Mela opened at Dilli Haat, INA, in New Delhi, with Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar inaugurating the event. The fair provides a platform for artisans from Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Safai Karamcharis and persons with disabilities to market crafts and handicrafts. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment notes benefits since 2022, with over 1,000 artisans participating in prior editions. Around 150 stalls will host participants under Bharat Tulip and Purple Fest initiatives, bringing together traditional crafts, creative talent and accessible market channels for wider audience reach and inclusive economic opportunity.
Shilp Samagam Mela opens at Dilli Haat (New Delhi).
Event supports SC, OBC, Safai Karamcharis and persons with disabilities.
About 150 stalls; partnerships with Bharat Tulip and Purple Fest.
Over 1,000 artisans benefited since 2022 editions.
Platform aims to expand market access and inclusion.
Prasar Bharati wins two ABU Prizes 2026 for broadcasting excellence
Prasar Bharati won two honours at the Asia‑Pacific Broadcasting Union Prizes 2026 in Colombo, held from 30 October to 3 November. Akashvani Bengaluru received the Audio Public Service Announcement Special Commendation for Beyond the Call, while Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh of Akashvani Imphal won the ABU Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award 2026 for innovations in playout and slow motion. The awards were part of the ABU General Assembly, highlighting Prasar Bharati’s reach with WAVES OTT, which had over 15 million registered users and 19 million downloads across more than 130 countries by 3 November.
Prasar Bharati wins two ABU Prizes 2026.
Akashvani Bengaluru commended for Beyond the Call.
Award to Akashvani Imphal’s Singh for engineering excellence.
WAVES OTT: 15 million registrations; 19 million downloads; 130 countries.
ABU General Assembly theme highlighted media for peace and trust.
Oct 30, 2026
Bihar Museum Ranks Ninth Among World's 100 Best Museums
In October 2026, the Bihar Museum in Patna secured ninth position globally and first in Asia in the 2026 World's 100 Best Museums ranking published by Worth a Journey. It became the only Indian museum featured in the list. Mexico City's Museo Nacional de Antropología topped the global ranking, while New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art ranked tenth. The Bihar Museum's appearance highlights India's growing importance in global cultural tourism and reflects ongoing efforts to preserve Bihar's ancient history, archaeological artefacts, sculptures and cultural heritage. Visitors and scholars praised its exhibitions and education programmes, noting increased international interest in South Asian art and history.
Bihar Museum ranked 9th worldwide; 1st in Asia
Only Indian museum in Worth a Journey’s top 100
Global top: Museo Nacional de Antropología; Met Museum 10th
Significance for India’s cultural tourism
Recognised for exhibitions and educational programmes
Oct 15, 2026
Oscar Whitfield named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
On 14 October 2026, fourteen-year-old British photographer Oscar Whitfield was named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 for Labour of Love, a black‑and‑white image showing a dung beetle carrying a dung ball. The photograph was taken in Zimbabwe from the beetle’s eye view. The award is part of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, organized by the Natural History Museum in London. This year saw a record 65,403 entries from 121 countries. There are two overall winners, adult and young, along with various category prizes. The contest highlights wildlife behavior and biodiversity through compelling visual storytelling.
Winner: Oscar Whitfield, 14, UK
Image: Labour of Love, dung beetle’s eye view
Location: Zimbabwe
Organiser: Natural History Museum, London
Entries: 65,403 from 121 countries
Two overall winners: adult and young
Puducherry Lycée Français International marks bicentenary
Puducherry’s Lycée Français International de Pondichéry marks its bicentenary on 15 October 2026. Founded in 1826 as the Collège royal de Pondichéry by French Governor Eugène Desbassayns de Richemont, the school has endured through colonial and post-colonial periods. The week-long celebrations include exhibitions, cultural performances, alumni reunions, and participation by French and Indian communities. More than 400 current students and over 1,000 guests are expected at the main event. The school is part of the Agency for French Education Abroad network, with 640 schools in 140 countries and about 7,000 alumni. The celebration features 23 student projects across history, archives, art, and digital work.
Affiliation: AEFE network; 640 schools in 140 countries
Projects: 23 student-led initiatives
Oct 13, 2026
BRICS Theatre Festival 2026 Inaugurated in New Delhi
The BRICS Theatre Festival 2026 was inaugurated on 12 October 2026 at the National School of Drama in New Delhi. The three‑day festival runs from 12 to 14 October 2026 under the theme 'Shared Stories, Shared Futures.' Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat attended the inaugural ceremony as chief guest. The festival, hosted during India’s BRICS Presidency 2026, showcases theatre from BRICS member countries and partner nations, with performances staged at NSD’s Abhimanch and other venues around the capital. It aims to promote cultural exchange, artistic collaboration and people‑to‑people connections while highlighting diverse theatre practices and narratives.
Event: BRICS Theatre Festival 2026, inaugurated 12 October 2026.
Venue: National School of Drama, New Delhi.
Theme: Shared Stories, Shared Futures.
Chief guest: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
Objective: cultural exchange among BRICS and partners.