What do Mongolians eat? Meat, fat, dairy … and more meat

What do Mongolians eat? Meat, fat, dairy … and more meat

Mongolia conjures up images of Genghis Khan, nomadic lifestyles and some of the world’s best polo players, but what is less well known is that the Mongols are one of only a handful of communities in the world that have evolved to be almost entirely carnivorous. In Asia, they are the only one. To find … Read more

PM Narendra Modi says Pali ignored till now

PM Narendra Modi says Pali ignored till now

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined the contribution of Pali, spoken during the times of Lord Buddha and declared a classical language a few days back, to India’s culture and enumerated various steps taken by his government for giving due respect to Buddhism which preached peace to the world. Significantly, his remarks come amid … Read more

Magic monasteries in Ladakh, India’s Himalayan region where Buddhists dance to defeat evil

Magic monasteries in Ladakh, India’s Himalayan region where Buddhists dance to defeat evil

The old man flashes a mischievous, gap-toothed smile, his face furrowed by time like the mountain landscape around him, radiating contentment as he waves a prayer wheel in his hand. He has been walking since the early morning, up and down hills, past rushing torrents, sandy plains and rocky, snow-covered crests, to which Ladakh, India’s … Read more

China’s Tibetan Buddhists urged to obey reincarnation rules as Dalai Lama mulls successor

China’s Tibetan Buddhists urged to obey reincarnation rules as Dalai Lama mulls successor

Senior Buddhist figures in China have emphasised the importance of government approval in the recognition of reincarnated Tibetan religious leaders, at a meeting this week less than a year before the Dalai Lama is expected to announce his succession plan. More than 50 Tibetan Buddhist monks and religious experts attended a seminar in Lanzhou, Gansu … Read more

China’s ‘self-taught philosopher’ finds viral fame brings mixed blessings

China’s ‘self-taught philosopher’ finds viral fame brings mixed blessings

His time in the spotlight was brief, but it was enough to alter the course of his life. In late 2021, he left manual labour and soon took up a new role as editor of an academic journal at a vocational college in Shijiazhuang, capital of the northern province of Hebei. His translation of American … Read more

China’s ethnic policy chief says minority artists must focus on common national identity

China’s ethnic policy chief says minority artists must focus on common national identity

The speech was published on Friday at China Minzu News, an official outlet focused on Beijing’s ethnic policies. Pan, who is ethnically Han, said he had observed a “disconcerting trend” in recent years where ethnic minority artworks were swayed by “Western multicultural theories”. He said: “This is evident in narrative models that isolate individual social … Read more

When is it and how is it celebrated in different countries?

When is it and how is it celebrated in different countries?

The birthday of the historical Buddha or Shakyamuni Buddha, known as Vesak in several countries, celebrates the birth of the child who became Prince Siddhartha around the end of the 4th century B.C. This is a holy occasion for all Buddhists, but is celebrated on different dates depending on the school of Buddhism or country … Read more

‘Kharge Is Wrong’: How PM Modi And His Govt Have Promoted Buddhism through Governance And Diplomacy

‘Kharge Is Wrong’: How PM Modi And His Govt Have Promoted Buddhism through Governance And Diplomacy

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is a follower of Buddhism, lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week for his alleged indifference towards the religion. In an interview with News 24, he questioned the PM’s faith in Buddhism. “Buddha is considered as the 9th avatar of Vishnu. He (PM Modi) does not let Buddha … Read more

Gujarat: Buddhism separate religion; Hindus must seek permission to convert: Gujarat govt circular

Gujarat: Buddhism separate religion; Hindus must seek permission to convert: Gujarat govt circular

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government issued a circular clarifying that Buddhism is a separate religion from Hinduism and that for converting from Hinduism to Buddhism, any individual has to adhere to the procedure laid down for conversion to any other religion as per Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003. The circular, dated April 8, said that … Read more