Culture Archives - Page 21 of 24

Kakure Kirishitan, The “Hidden Christians” of Japan

19Nov

By Aqsa Azam2 Comments

Culture

Kakure Kirishitan, The “Hidden Christians” of Japan

Kakure Kirishitan, also known as Hidden Christians of Japan are slowly fading away. After decades of ban and persecution new generation is not ready to carry old traditions. IKITSUKI ISLAND, NAGSAKI - World is full of eerie surprises. One of them is Kakure Kirishitan or ''Secret Society of Catholic Christians'' in Japan. They came into being when Christians were forced to leave their religion or leave the country in 17th Century. In 1614, Military Government of Japan imposed a ban on Christianity. Tokugawa Bakufu (Military Government that ruled Japan from 1604 to 1867, also known as the Tokugawa Shogunate) outlawed Christianity, tearing down churches, and expelling the missionaries who taught it. Japanese Christians exiled to remote islands, tortured, martyred, or forced to comm...

Pakistan issues 3000 visas to Sikh Yatris on Guru Nanak Jayanti

13Nov

By Aqsa Azam1 Comment

Culture

Pakistan issues 3000 visas to Sikh Yatris on Guru Nanak Jayanti

Pakistan High Commission exceeds the number of visas for Indain Sikh Yatris. It issued under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974. Guru Nanak considered as the most sacred personality in Sikhism. Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, celebrates the birth of the first Sikh Guru and considered one of the most sacred festivals among Sikhs. The day celebrated on the full moon day of the Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar. It also marked as Kartik Poornima. This year the day falls on November 19. It will end on November 26. It included the visit of all Gurdwaras and pays their respect. This is 552nd birth anniversary of the prestigious personality this year. Pilgrims will remember his sayings and offer their sacrifices to him. They wi...

Ignored Temple of Huma Hatan, more tilted than Pisa Tower

4Nov

By Kino2 Comments

Culture

Ignored Temple of Huma Hatan, more tilted than Pisa Tower

Leaning Temple of Huma Hatan , dedicated to Lord Shiva is located on the left bank of River Mahanadi, about 25 kms from the town of Sambalpur in Odisha, India. It was built in 1670 by the fifth Raja of Sambalpur. His name was Raja Baliyar Singh. The incredible thing about this Huma Hatan temple is its leaning structure. The main sanctum sanctorum leans in one direction and all the other shrines including the boundary wall are in a leaning position in other direction. The inclination made in this temple is not sure whether it is by Historians says that the structure of temple is constructed deliberately. Also to avoid the temple from the violent currents of Mahanadi and Dhulijore. There are many theories related to the leaning sturcture of temple. If it approves the reas...

Crocodile men making headlines in the tribes of Africa

3Nov

By Aqsa AzamNo Comments

Culture

Crocodile men making headlines in the tribes of Africa

"Crocodile is a symbol of power" this phrase is a foundation of this ritual that turns men into crocodile men. This brutal scarification is one of the famous and mandatory practice in the tribes of Africa. World is full of mysteries and surprises. Every region and group has their own kind of unique way of living and thinking. Leading to this theory a tribe is Africa surpasses to all. Chambri tribe in Papua New Guinea near Sepik River follows this brutal fashion in order to turn boy into men. They are doing this for decades and it is one of the most sacred ceremony in the tribe. They cut their skin in a manner that will look like crocodile skin after healing. Locally they call those men as crocodile men. Boys from age 11 to 30 years can do such things to their bodies in order to get t...

Why Kalash Valley is known as Kafiristan

2Nov

By Aqsa Azam5 Comments

Culture

Why Kalash Valley is known as Kafiristan

There is an isolated valley in the mountains of Chitral calls as Kalash Valley. Beautiful people, eccentric scenic beauty but has a disputed history. This clash of cultures gives it a nice taste that lasts forever in tourist's mind. Chitral, Pakistan: In the appealing mountain range of Hindu Kush, there is a small valley name as Kalash Valley. It has three more valleys or tribes of their own kind. First is Bumburet, which is the biggest and most famous among tourists. Second one is Rumbur which is in the North side of Bumburet. Third and last one is Biriu or Birir, the most ancient and orthodox valley till date. People in these valleys commonly known as Siyah Posh, Black Robe or Kafirs. Due to unique religious beliefs and rituals they called non believers or infidels. Kalasha culture l...