Sri Lanka Celebrates Poson Poya: Honouring 2000 Years of Buddhism
Sri Lanka observed the sacred Poson Poya festival, which commemorates the arrival of Buddhism on the island nation over 2,000 years ago. Celebrated on the full moon day in June, this festival marks the momentous occasion when Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka of India, preached the first sermon to King Devanampiyatissa at Mihintale.
Jun 07, 2025
Eight Hundred-Year-Old Pandya Era Shiva Temple Unearthed in Tamil Nadu
An important archaeological discovery was made in Udampatti village of Melur taluk, Tamil Nadu, where the foundation of an 800-year-old Shiva temple belonging to the later Pandya period was unearthed. Although only the stone base remains, the site is of major historical interest due to Tamil inscriptions dating back to 1217-1218 CE that reveal the temple's name—Thennavanisvaram—and its financially independent status. This find sheds light on the cultural, architectural, and socio-economic dynamics of the Pandya era.
The discovery also reveals that the current village was once known as Attur, providing critical historical and linguistic data for researchers.
Jun 04, 2025
Lavender Festival 2025 Concludes
The 3rd Lavender Festival concluded, in Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir, celebrating the region's growing role in India's Purple Revolution. Organised by CSIR-IIIM under the Aroma Mission, the two-day event highlighted the economic and social transformation lavender cultivation is bringing to remote Himalayan communities, drawing participation from over 1,200 stakeholders including farmers, scientists, investors, and policymakers.