Festivals of India: Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi

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The Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi festival is a vibrant annual celebration of the Singpho tribe, primarily in Arunachal Pradesh, held in memory of their ancestral forefather, Shapawng Yawng. Also known as the Manau Poi or Dance Festival, it holds great cultural and spiritual significance for the Singpho people, bridging generations and fostering unity within the community. Celebrated between 12th and 15th February, this festival showcases the rich traditions, customs, and heritage of one of Arunachal Pradesh’s important tribal groups.

Shapawng Yawng is revered as the progenitor of the Singpho tribe, who trace their lineage back to this legendary ancestor. The festival originated as a homage to him, incorporating elements of nature, spirituality, and community bonding. The traditional Manau dance symbolically connects the Singpho people with their environment and history, deriving inspiration from the movements of birds feasting and celebrating life.

This festival is not only an expression of cultural pride but also a concerted effort to preserve the Singpho heritage in the face of modern challenges, including substance abuse among youth and cultural dilution. Its organisation and revival in the 1980s underline the community’s resilience and commitment to passing their legacy intact to future generations.

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The rituals and attire of the Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi festival carry deep symbolic meanings that reflect the Singpho tribe’s cultural values, spiritual beliefs, and connection to nature. The festival’s key ritual centres around the sacred “Shadung,” tall, multicoloured wooden poles that represent male and female energies, symbolising the creation of life and the cosmic balance between these forces. Dancing around the Shadung during the Manau dance embodies unity, harmony, and the intimate relationship between the community and the environment, inspired by the movements of birds that signify life and prosperity.

The traditional attire worn during the festival further expresses cultural identity and heritage. Men wear patterned lungis, turbans, and shirts symbolising strength and valour, while women don colourful Choi or Pipa tops and Singket skirts adorned with intricate jewellery, representing beauty, fertility, and continuity of family lineage. The vibrant colours and designs in the costumes celebrate joy, abundance, and the community’s unique craftsmanship, while also signifying social status and respect for tradition.

Rhythmic beats from traditional drums called ‘Gongs’ and ‘Thongs’ set the tempo for dancers, who move in unison to express unity, strength, and the community’s collective spirit. More broadly, the rhythmic drumming and coordinated dance movements function as ritualistic expressions that reinforce social cohesion, collective identity, and the transmission of ancestral wisdom. The festival’s symbols and attire thus serve as visual and performative vessels carrying centuries of Singpho history, beliefs, and values, fostering pride and cultural continuity amid changing times. Alongside dance performances, there are exhibitions of local handlooms, handicrafts, folk songs, and fashion shows, providing a comprehensive view of Singpho artistry and lifestyle.

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The festival acts as a social adhesive, fostering communication, cohesion, and mutual understanding among different segments of the Singpho and wider communities. It strengthens social bonds and reinforces a sense of identity and belonging. The economic benefits through tourism and the promotion of indigenous crafts and cuisine further empower the community and help integrate the Singphos into the larger cultural mosaic of India.

Primarily celebrated in the Changlang and Namsai districts of Arunachal Pradesh, the festival rotates its main venue, often held at Bordumsa. It has grown in visibility and participation each year, drawing visitors and dignitaries keen to experience this unique cultural exposition.

As a vibrant cultural festival, Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi continues to educate youth, promote cultural pride, and showcase the Singphos’ rich traditions on national and international stages. The festival embodies the dynamism of tribal culture, adapting while retaining its roots, making it both a heritage celebration and a progressive social movement.

2026 Week 09 Update

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Hello, March! A new month, a quiet reset. The first stretch of the year is already behind us, and here we are, offering another chance to begin again, refine what’s not working, and build gently on what is. March feels like a bridge month. Not quite the rush of January, not yet the fullness of mid-year. Just enough space to recalibrate. May this month bring steadier energy, clearer focus, and little but meaningful progress. No dramatic reinvention required. Just consistency, intention, and a little courage to keep going.

And that’s exactly what I am feeling. Everything will work out way better than you thought it would. Once you let go of the need to control every outcome, you automatically align with the flow of life. And this unlocks a level of abundance beyond anything you could have planned. Free yourself from the burden of analysing every twist and turn; it was never yours to carry anyway. Support can come from unexpected places, and opportunities that seem ordinary at first may hold more potential than you realise. Trust in what’s to come. A positive belief is what transforms uncertainty into a space full of possibilities.

Attributed to a fictional character from the 2002 comedy film National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, Van Wilder, portrayed by actor Ryan Reynolds, the character was known for his laid-back attitude and humorous observations about life, often delivering lighthearted lines that carry surprisingly relatable wisdom beneath the comedy.

Today’s quote uses humour to deliver a practical truth. A rocking chair moves constantly, but it never actually changes location. In the same way, worrying can feel active and productive. Your mind is busy. You’re thinking through scenarios, replaying conversations, predicting outcomes. It feels like you’re addressing the problem. But in reality, you’re staying in the same place. Worry often masquerades as preparation. We tell ourselves that if we think about an issue long enough, we’ll prevent it or solve it. But most worry is repetitive rather than constructive. It circles the same fears without leading to clear decisions or action. Instead of moving forward, we expend emotional energy and remain stuck.

The quote doesn’t suggest ignoring problems. There’s a difference between thoughtful planning and unproductive worrying. Planning identifies specific steps you can take. Worry, on the other hand, tends to focus on what might go wrong without identifying what can be done. The key shift is from rumination to action. Once you ask, “What can I actually control here?” the rocking chair stops, and real movement begins. There’s also a gentle reminder about perspective. Much of what we worry about never happens, and when challenges do arise, we’re often more capable of handling them than we expected. Worry drains the present moment for the sake of a future that hasn’t arrived.

Today’s verse from the Bhagavad Gita is about clarity. There are seasons when clarity feels distant. When the next step is unclear. When motivation is thin. This verse doesn’t ask for brilliance. It asks for movement. Action, Krishna says, is better than inaction. Not because action guarantees success, but because stillness born of avoidance slowly erodes confidence. When we delay too long, doubt grows heavier than effort ever was. We sometimes imagine that we must wait for the perfect plan, the perfect mood, the perfect assurance. But life rarely arranges itself so neatly. Often, clarity arrives after the first step, not before it. Even survival, the verse reminds us gently, depends on action. To eat, to work, to care, to show up—these are not grand gestures. They are daily acts of participation in life. This is not a call to frantic productivity. It is a reminder that engagement, however small, keeps us aligned with purpose. Sometimes the bravest thing is simply to begin. Just something to carry into the week ahead.

I am super excited for this month and wish you all the same! Sending all of you loads of positive energy, positivity, and good fortune! Here’s to an exciting month and the rest of 2026!

In My Hands Today…

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The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource – Christopher L. Hayes

We all feel it—the distraction, the loss of focus, the addictive focus on the wrong things for too long. We bump into the zombies on their phones in the street, and sometimes they’re us. We stare in pity at the four people at the table in the restaurant, all on their phones, and then we feel the buzz in our pocket. Something has changed for most of human history, the boundary between public and private has been clear, at least in theory. Now, as Chris Hayes writes, “With the help of a few tech firms, we basically tore it down in about a decade.” Hayes argues that we are in the midst of an epoch-defining transition whose only parallel is what happened to labor in the nineteenth attention has become a commodified resource extracted from us, and from which we are increasingly alienated. The Sirens’ Call is the big-picture vision we urgently need to offer clarity and guidance.

Because there is a breaking point. Sirens are designed to compel us, and now they are going off in our bedrooms and kitchens at all hours of the day and night, doing the bidding of vast empires, the most valuable companies in history, built on harvesting human attention. As Hayes writes, “Now our deepest neurological structures, human evolutionary inheritances, and social impulses are in a habitat designed to prey upon, to cultivate, distort, or destroy that which most fundamentally makes us human.” The Sirens’ Call is the book that snaps everything into a single holistic framework so that we can wrest back control of our lives, our politics, and our future.

Sacred Stones, Spaces, and Stories: Jyotirlingas Part 8 –  Kashi Vishwanath Temple

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Nestled on the western bank of the sacred River Ganga, in the ancient city of Varanasi, or Kashi, stands the illustrious Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and the spiritual heart of India’s Sanatan tradition. Revered also as the Golden Temple, it is a focal point of worship, legend, and liberation for millions of Hindus. As Vishwanath, the Lord of the Universe, Lord Shiva is believed to grant moksha, or spiritual emancipation, to anyone who worships here, elevating the temple and city as a central axis between earthly existence and cosmic consciousness.

The mythos surrounding Kashi Vishwanath Temple is grand, profound, and universally resonant. The core myth traces back to the primordial dispute between Brahma, the creator, and Vishnu, the preserver, over their supremacy in the cosmos. Shiva intervened by manifesting as an infinite pillar of light, a Jyotirlinga at Kashi, challenging both gods to find its beginning and end. Vishnu transformed into Varaha or boar to search below, while Brahma, in the form of a swan, soared above. Vishnu admitted his inability to locate the pillar’s roots, but Brahma falsely claimed he had found the summit.

Angered by the deceit, Shiva punished Brahma by cutting off his fifth head and decreed that Brahma would never be worshipped. In contrast, Vishnu’s truthfulness was rewarded with eternal reverence. Shiva then divided his cosmic light among twelve sacred locations, today’s Jyotirlingas, with Kashi Vishwanath as one of the most luminous. The temple thus stands not just as a shrine, but as the very boundary between divine truth, cosmic radiance, and the ultimate liberation, moksha.

Legend declares that Shiva himself chose Kashi as his eternal abode. When Goddess Parvati’s mother expressed concern for Shiva’s humble dwellings, arrangements were made for Shiva’s permanent residence at Kashi, through boons given to king Divodas and the Brahmin Aunikumbha.

Another tale, integral to Varanasi, involves Maa Annapurna, Goddess of Nourishment. When a crisis of hunger struck Kashi, Shiva petitioned Annapurna to remain in the city, guaranteeing none would go unfed. Her adjacent temple ensures food as prasad, symbolising the fusion of material and spiritual sustenance for all who come to Kashi.

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Kashi is said to be older than legend itself. The Skanda Purana’s Kashi Khand segment mentions the Vishwanath shrine, tying it to the city’s founding myths. Throughout history, Kashi Vishwanath Temple has endured relentless cycles of destruction and rebirth. Some traditions attribute the earliest temple to King Harishchandra or Vikramaditya. The temple was destroyed by Qutb-ud-din Aibak’s forces in 1194, rebuilt and demolished in the succeeding centuries by Iltutmish, Sikander Lodhi, and others. It is believed that Raja Man Singh I rebuilt the temple, but subsequent Mughal rulers razed it repeatedly, notably Aurangzeb who built the Gyanvapi mosque on the site in the 17th century. In 1780, Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore resurrected Kashi Vishwanath Temple at its present location, restoring it as the heart of Varanasi’s sacred geography. The temple’s turbulent history, enduring destruction for faith, and rebirth with devotion mirror Shiva’s own cosmic dance.

From the 19th century onward, further adornments were made. Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab donated 1 ton of gold, giving the temple its famous golden spires. The Rana of Nepal gifted the massive stone statue of the Nandi bull, now a temple icon.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple’s design blends ancient style with distinctive regional creativity. The temple is built in classic Nagara style, with a quadrangular layout and multiple golden shikharas crowned at the summit. The garbhagriha houses the Shivalinga, ensconced in silver and tangible spiritual energy. The temple complex comprises several smaller shrines dedicated to various gods and goddesses, including Kaal Bhairav, Kartikeya, Vishnu, Avimukteshwara, and Annapurna. Silver doors, golden domes, and marble courtyards reflect centuries of patronage. The seven-foot-tall Nandi gifted by Nepal stands sentinel to the sanctum, symbolising patience and devotion.

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Kashi Vishwanath pulsates with daily rituals, monthly observances, and continuous worship. Each day, the linga is ritually bathed in Ganga water, milk, honey, and flowers; devotees recite the Rudram and sing bhajans. The “Mangala Aarti” at dawn and the “Shayan Aarti” at dusk are transformative, involving hundreds of devotees, bells, conches, and fiery lamps. Bilva leaves, sandalwood paste, sweets, and silk are traditional offerings; food as prasad is often given at the nearby Annapurna Temple. Mahashivaratri is celebrated with unparalleled enthusiasm; the city comes alive with processions, all-night vigils, music, fasting, and prayers. The temple is also at the centre of Dev Deepawali, Kartik Purnima, and Shravan Somvar, drawing millions for ritual worship. The city’s many ghats and smaller temples contribute to the worship cycle, making Shiva’s presence omnipresent in Varanasi. Local families, Brahmin priests, and temple trusts collaborate to maintain traditions and ensure inclusivity for all castes and communities.

Pilgrimage to Kashi Vishwanath is considered an essential spiritual milestone within Sanatan Dharma. Varanasi is served by extensive rail, air, and road networks, its spiritual magnetism attracting seekers nationwide and globally. The temple, situated in Varanasi’s narrow lanes, is accessed on foot or via cycle rickshaws, amid vibrant bazaars, ghats, and flower markets. Pilgrims witness the confluence of life and liberation: chants at the ghats, sadhus in saffron, temples, and bustling stalls. Dharamshalas, guesthouses, and ashrams provide accommodation and guidance throughout the city.

Countless stories fill pilgrim lore: miraculous recoveries, visions in dreams, fulfilled wishes, liberation at death. The spiritual atmosphere of Varanasi is universally reaffirmed by generations who arrive seeking transformation, peace, and moksha.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is not merely a site of worship but a cosmic cultural engine for India and the world. Ancient Sanskrit texts and regional literature extol Shiva and Kashi as points of supreme radiance. Bhajans, ragas, and devotional music echo in temple halls and city lanes, inspiring legends of Shiva’s power and grace. Paintings, sculptures, and handicrafts propagate the iconography of the temple and the city throughout India’s spiritual landscape.

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Kashi Vishwanath is woven into the fabric of Varanasi’s civic, cultural, and social identity. It stands as a symbol of enduring spiritual values, communal harmony, and resilience. From Mahatma Gandhi’s visits to modern poets, Kashi remains India’s mystical heart, a living source of artistic and philosophical renewal.

Administered by the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, the temple has embraced modernisation while safeguarding tradition. Digital entry, security, guided tours, and the celebrated Kashi Vishwanath Corridor have revitalised access and the pilgrim experience. Conservation efforts have stabilised the ancient structure, protecting both tangible and intangible heritage. Millions flood the temple during major festivals and round-the-year visits, boosting spiritual tourism and local prosperity. Pilgrims hail from all corners of India and the diaspora, including international tourists and spiritual seekers across traditions. Interfaith leaders and secular visitors are welcome, adding to the city’s cosmopolitan spirit.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple remains the radiant jewel in the crown of Varanasi, embodying cosmic union, daily worship, liberation, and resilience. Through centuries of upheaval, its Jyotirlinga has shone as Shiva’s abode of eternal light and truth. For those who walk its hallowed halls, the journey is not only a pilgrimage, but a passage through history, myth, and the unfathomable mystery of the divine, a cosmic invitation to dissolve into the sacredness at the heart of existence.

In My Hands Today…

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Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America – Russell Shorto

In 1664, England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, had dreams of empire, and their archrivals, the Dutch, were in the way. But Richard Nicolls, who led the English flotilla bent on destruction, changed his strategy once he began parleying with Peter Stuyvesant, the Dutch leader on Manhattan.

Bristling with vibrant characters, Taking Manhattan reveals the founding of New York to be an the result not of an English military takeover but of clever negotiations that led to a fusion of the multiethnic capitalistic society the Dutch had pioneered to the power of the rising English empire. But the birth of what might be termed the first modern city is also a story of the brutal dispossession of Native Americans and of the roots of American slavery. Taking Manhattan shows how the paradox of New York’s origins—boundless opportunity coupled with subjugation and displacement—reflect America’s promise and failure to this day. Russell Shorto, whose work has been described as “astonishing” (New York Times) and “revelatory” (New York magazine), has once again mined newly translated sources to offer a vibrant tale and a fresh and trenchant argument about American beginnings.