village ritual

A religious practitioner in Dhule has been arrested for allegedly murdering a 33-year-old woman after she resisted his sexual assault. The mantrik then killed her male relative to conceal the crime. He confessed to both murders when questioned by police at his farm, where he was found preparing to bury the second victim's body.

In Pakur district, a troubling incident has emerged where a local panchayat has allegedly fined a family Rs 2 lakh and enforced a social boycott on 15 families for their absence at a funeral, opting instead to attend a wedding. The families involved now find themselves excluded from important village engagements.

‘Is The Activity Regulated By Any Existing Guidelines?’

A 30-year-old man in Jodhpur was arrested for allegedly abducting and beheading an 11-year-old boy, believing the act would grant him spiritual powers and a heavenly afterlife. The accused, influenced by an occult practitioner, had a history of superstitious rituals, including a previous attempted abduction and animal sacrifice. Police are now searching for the advisor.

A shocking incident has emerged from Pali district, Rajasthan. An 11-year-old boy was allegedly murdered by a villager. The accused confessed to killing the child on the advice of a tantrik. He believed this act would help him get married. Police have detained the accused and are searching for the tantrik.

Once drawing nearly 5,000 devotees, the annual fishing festival at Khandige has dwindled to a handful of participants this year, with pollution in the Nandini river threatening a centuries‑old tradition.

As dark clouds gather over Goa, the enchanting tradition of Purument comes alive, evolving from essential provisioning into a heartfelt ritual. Culinary artist Chef Shubhra Shankhwalkar shares the magic of her journeys through the countryside, where she gathers exquisite finds such as Canacona chillies and Marcel papads.

Discover Okunevo, Siberia's coldest Hindu village, where Sanskrit chants and yoga are practiced in sub-zero temperatures. This remote hamlet, influenced by Hindu movements, hosts ashrams and temples, attracting spiritual seekers globally. Travelers can experience a unique cultural contrast, especially during the milder summer months.

A wedding in Etah was called off Sunday night after the bride refused to marry the groom, alleging his family concealed a spinal disorder. The groom's struggle to sit upright during rituals raised suspicions, leading to the abrupt return of the baraat. The bride's family discovered the alleged condition after the groom fell during a ceremony.

A wedding in Ballia, Bihar, was called off after the bride rejected a saree presented by the groom's family, deeming it unsuitable. The disagreement escalated into a family clash, resulting in injuries to the bride's mother and brother. The groom's family subsequently left without the marriage taking place.

Uttarakhand faces a growing 'ghost village' crisis as over 1,700 villages become uninhabited. Livelihood scarcity, climate change, and fading traditions drive migration, leaving behind elderly residents and silent fields. Experts emphasize the need for imaginative solutions beyond infrastructure to revive rural life and make villages aspirational again.