The Culture Gully: Art, Culture, History India

Prime Time to YouTube: Ravish Kumar's Revolution in Indian Media

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The images portray the complexities of love, family relationships, and societal expectations in Indian society. They highlight how personal choices, cultural traditions, and emotional bonds shape human relationships.

When did Bollywood stop telling Middle Class Stories?

Bollywood's fading connection with middle-class realities highlights a growing gap between cinema and everyday life. This article explores how commercial priorities have sidelined relatable stories, examines the decline of authentic representation, and considers why audiences continue to seek meaningful characters and narratives rooted in ordinary experiences.

ART+CULTURE

Maanvi Bhatia

7 hours ago5 min read

A group of women and children travel across a barren landscape, carrying their personal belongings and essential possessions as they journey towards an uncertain future. The scene highlights the hardships of displacement, the struggle for survival, and the resilience of individuals facing challenging circumstances.

How did Partition create Modern Indian Street Food?

The Partition of 1947 reshaped more than borders; it transformed India's culinary landscape. From butter chicken and chole bhature to roadside dhabas and regional delicacies, refugee communities turned displacement, scarcity and memory into enduring food traditions. Discover how one of history's greatest upheavals helped create India's modern street food culture.

HISTORY

Maanvi Bhatia

8 hours ago5 min read

Traditional Kerala percussion artists perform together on chenda drums during a temple celebration, creating the powerful rhythms that define the state’s festive soundscape. Surrounded by glowing oil lamps and traditional architecture, the performance reflects the deep connection between music, ritual and community.

When Kerala falls Silent, its Ancient Rhythms still Speak

Kerala’s traditional music is more than festival rhythms; it is a living expression of history, faith, labour and community. From the powerful beats of Chenda to the soulful melodies of Mappila Pattu and Vanchipattu, discover the sounds that continue to preserve Kerala’s cultural identity across generations.

ART+CULTURE

SWETHA RAPHAEL

9 hours ago4 min read

A vibrant display of spices, including red chillies, black peppercorns, turmeric and cinnamon, captures the richness of India’s spice trade.

Kerala’s Spice that conquered the World

Long before spices became everyday kitchen essentials, Kerala’s tiny peppercorns were shaping the course of world history. From ancient maritime trade routes to distant royal kitchens, these aromatic treasures connected civilizations, attracted empires and transformed global food cultures. Discover how Kerala’s spices conquered the world, one peppercorn at a time.

HISTORY

SWETHA RAPHAEL

10 hours ago3 min read

Detailed artistry of traditional handloom weaving, showcasing an artisan's hands carefully manipulating threads.

The Women keeping Northeast India’s Weaving Traditions alive

Northeast India’s women weavers are transforming ancestral skills into modern livelihoods. Balancing heritage with contemporary fashion, they weave cultural stories into everything from traditional attire to modern accessories. However, sustaining this vital 72% female-led workforce requires fair wages, market access, and protecting community motifs from exploitation as the craft evolves.

ART+CULTURE

Lalthakimi Khupchawng

11 hours ago3 min read

A group of passengers sharing a laugh inside an Indian train compartment, capturing how a journey with complete strangers can turn into hours of conversation, shared stories, and unexpected familiarity.

Strangers who become Family for Twelve Hours

Indian trains turn strangers into a temporary family. Bound by shared space, homemade parathas, and the question "Aap kahaan tak jaa rahe hain?", passengers trade deeply personal life stories. These fleeting, intimate connections require no future upkeep- just an ordinary, generous care that dissolves beautifully the moment the train hits the platform.

ART+CULTURE

Anshika Gupta

11 hours ago3 min read

Shravan Kumar carries his elderly parents in baskets suspended from a pole across his shoulders, depicting the devotion and filial duty for which he is remembered in Indian tradition.

Shravan Kumar was not an Ideal Son: Why You shouldn't have to live with your Children

Indian tradition highly values filial duty, often measuring a child's love by co-residence. However, forcing shared housing as the sole proof of devotion creates undue guilt and restricts independence. As senior-living communities grow, true care should prioritize mutual respect and freedom over a shared postal address.

ART+CULTURE

Anshika Gupta

11 hours ago3 min read

How does a modest pot of dal feed an entire family gathering? The answer lies in barkat, the Indian philosophy of abundance and sharing. From Langar and Atithi Devo Bhava to sharing the first roti with birds, discover how Indian traditions celebrate generosity, community, and the belief that true wealth lies not just in what we possess, but in what we share.

The Culture of Barkat: Why Sharing Is the Real Indian Wealth

How does a modest pot of dal feed an entire family gathering? The answer lies in barkat, the Indian philosophy of abundance and sharing. From Langar and Atithi Devo Bhava to sharing the first roti with birds, discover how Indian traditions celebrate generosity, community, and the belief that true wealth lies not just in what we possess, but in what we share.

ART+CULTURE

Nishtha Khanduja

Oct 233 min read

What if traditional Indian homes were doing the math long before modern architecture? From the geometric principles of the Shulba Sutras to cooling courtyards, mud walls, intricate jaali screens, and symmetrical Kolam patterns, discover how rural Indian architecture combines mathematics, climate wisdom, and cultural traditions to create homes that remain relevant in today's search for sustainable living.

Homes That Do the Math: The Sacred Geometry of Rural Indian Architecture

What if traditional Indian homes were doing the math long before modern architecture? From the geometric principles of the Shulba Sutras to cooling courtyards, mud walls, intricate jaali screens, and symmetrical Kolam patterns, discover how rural Indian architecture combines mathematics, climate wisdom, and cultural traditions to create homes that remain relevant in today's search for sustainable living.

ART+CULTURE

Nishtha Khanduja

Oct 233 min read

From Sunday morning coconut oil champis and childhood Mundan ceremonies to jasmine gajras and the Sikh tradition of Kesh, hair in India has always meant more than beauty. Discover how religion, Ayurveda, family traditions, and cultural identity have shaped Indian hair practices through generations—and how these traditions continue to evolve alongside modern hairstyles and changing beauty standards.

Hair Today, Heritage Forever: The Cultural History of Indian Hair

From Sunday morning coconut oil champis and childhood Mundan ceremonies to jasmine gajras and the Sikh tradition of Kesh, hair in India has always meant more than beauty. Discover how religion, Ayurveda, family traditions, and cultural identity have shaped Indian hair practices through generations—and how these traditions continue to evolve alongside modern hairstyles and changing beauty standards.

HISTORY

Garima Chhabra

Oct 233 min read

From the unstitched dhotis of the Harappan Civilisation to today's tailored suits and stylish sherwanis, Indian menswear has come a long way! Discover how the Vedic period, Persian influences, Mughal fashion, British rule, the Swadeshi movement, and Bollywood shaped Indian men's clothing over thousands of years. More than just fashion, Indian menswear is a fascinating reflection of India's cultural heritage, history, and evolving identity.

From Dhoti to Sherwani: How Indian Menswear Went from Drapes to Dapper

From the unstitched dhotis of the Harappan Civilisation to today's tailored suits and stylish sherwanis, Indian menswear has come a long way! Discover how the Vedic period, Persian influences, Mughal fashion, British rule, the Swadeshi movement, and Bollywood shaped Indian men's clothing over thousands of years. More than just fashion, Indian menswear is a fascinating reflection of India's cultural heritage, history, and evolving identity.

HISTORY

Garima Chhabra

Oct 233 min read

The humble steel dabba is more than a kitchen container; it’s a piece of India’s everyday cultural history. From carrying homemade laddoos and school lunches to becoming secret piggy banks and sewing kits, these trusty containers hold generations of memories. Durable, reusable and endlessly versatile, steel dabbas represent the resourcefulness of Indian households long before sustainability became a buzzword. Discover how this everyday kitchen essential became a symbol of nostalgia, family traditions and the changing identity of the Indian middle class.

The Steel Dabba: India’s OG Tupperware That Came with a Side of Nostalgia

The humble steel dabba is more than a kitchen container; it’s a piece of India’s everyday cultural history. From carrying homemade laddoos and school lunches to becoming secret piggy banks and sewing kits, these trusty containers hold generations of memories. Durable, reusable and endlessly versatile, steel dabbas represent the resourcefulness of Indian households long before sustainability became a buzzword. Discover how this everyday kitchen essential became a symbol of nos

ART+CULTURE

Garima Chhabra

Oct 213 min read

TRAVEL

Discover India like never before with out travel section showcasing guides, homestays, hotels, dining experiences and more

HISTORY

Every place has a history attached to it. Through this section, dive-deep into uncovering the truth behind India's wonders

ART+CULTURE

Explore emerging artists and fresh talent. The section challenges stereotypes, offering nuanced views of contemporary Indian society. .

GULLY SCOOPS

Scoops bring you the freshest stories that capture the essence of India's diverse tapestry; a daily round-up of the cultural landscape

Discover Samantha Prabhu's ring and its stunning history. Explore her bridal look that revives a 400-year-old tradition with the Samantha Prabhu ring.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s Bridal Look: Diamond Ring, 400-Year-Old Tradition

Discover Samantha Prabhu's ring and its stunning history. Explore her bridal look that revives a 400-year-old tradition with the Samantha Prabhu ring.

theculturegully

Dec 2, 2025