Book Box: Can you bottle a Goddess?
A journalist recounts her experience attending the birthday celebration of the Goddess Hadimba at a Himalayan temple, capturing the sensory richness of the ritual and the surrounding environment. She reflects on the tension between preserving sacred moments through recording and respecting their sanctity by being fully present. Her attempt to film the ceremony is gently rebuked by an elder, prompting introspection on cultural sensitivity and authenticity.
- ▪The author describes the sounds, sights, and atmosphere of the Hadimba Temple during the goddess’s birthday celebration.
- ▪She attempts to film the ritual but is stopped by an elderly man who gestures for her to put her phone away.
- ▪The article explores questions of cultural respect, identity, and the appropriateness of recording sacred traditions.
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Book Box: Can you bottle a Goddess?A journalist shares an intimate experience celebrating the Goddess Hadimba's birthday in a Himalayan temple, reflecting on culture and respect for tradition.Updated on: May 17, 2026 3:25 PM ISTBy Sonya Dutta ChoudhuryShare viaCopy link Dear Reader,All around and above me are ancient deodar cedar trees, their sap-green, needle-covered branches rising a hundred feet into a clear blue sky. Below me, the cool grey stones of the temple courtyard.It’s early morning in the forest and I feel a tap on my arm.All around and above me are ancient deodar cedar trees, their sap-green, needle-covered branches rising a hundred feet into a clear blue sky. Below me, the cool grey stones of the temple courtyard.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Hindustan Times — Top.
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