Madhavi Tumkur
@madhavi.bsky.social
Music. Architecture. Nature. Poetry. Language. Culture. Folklores.
How stereotypical is belly dancing that it overshadows other forms of dance fm the ME. Belly dance was never meant to entertain men; it was a fertility dance performed for women. Here too, men entertain themselves; not the opposite sex. Anyone out there knows what this dance is & where it is fm?
January 11, 2026 at 10:24 PM
How stereotypical is belly dancing that it overshadows other forms of dance fm the ME. Belly dance was never meant to entertain men; it was a fertility dance performed for women. Here too, men entertain themselves; not the opposite sex. Anyone out there knows what this dance is & where it is fm?
Hong Kong’s golden hour from The Peak. Don’t know how many times I have seen it and still drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
December 31, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Hong Kong’s golden hour from The Peak. Don’t know how many times I have seen it and still drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
Anoushka Shankar’s Grammy-nominated “We Burn So Brightly” mixing classical Indian music with Goa trance is absolutely electrifying.
December 14, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Anoushka Shankar’s Grammy-nominated “We Burn So Brightly” mixing classical Indian music with Goa trance is absolutely electrifying.
The Khaleeji rap track topping Spotify’s viral chart after appearing in a Bollywood new release: #Dhuandhar. The song Fa9la by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi was originally released last year. The exposure in the Hindi espionage film helped push the track to the no 1 spot in the chart. V v v v catchy.
December 13, 2025 at 9:53 AM
The Khaleeji rap track topping Spotify’s viral chart after appearing in a Bollywood new release: #Dhuandhar. The song Fa9la by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi was originally released last year. The exposure in the Hindi espionage film helped push the track to the no 1 spot in the chart. V v v v catchy.
It’s been 20 years and Lebanese Arab pop singer, Nancy Ajram, remains iconic, bridging generations; so much that even Billie Eilish recently said she “loooooooves her”.
December 4, 2025 at 3:23 PM
It’s been 20 years and Lebanese Arab pop singer, Nancy Ajram, remains iconic, bridging generations; so much that even Billie Eilish recently said she “loooooooves her”.
Sri Lankan curries are another level of yumminess. Beetroot Thel Dala, Wattakka (pumpkin) Curry, Bathala (sweet potato) curry and dhal eaten with Samba rice and coconut sambol is a ticket to gastro-heaven.
November 14, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Sri Lankan curries are another level of yumminess. Beetroot Thel Dala, Wattakka (pumpkin) Curry, Bathala (sweet potato) curry and dhal eaten with Samba rice and coconut sambol is a ticket to gastro-heaven.
It’s a fine resting spot for the bird on Lenin’s hand. He still stands in Ashgabat’s Lenin Park amidst Turkmen motifs and his name written in Arabic. The 1948 earthquake didn’t put even a dent to his statue. Весь вопрос—кто кого опередит?
August 4, 2025 at 8:17 AM
It’s a fine resting spot for the bird on Lenin’s hand. He still stands in Ashgabat’s Lenin Park amidst Turkmen motifs and his name written in Arabic. The 1948 earthquake didn’t put even a dent to his statue. Весь вопрос—кто кого опередит?
John Updike’s 1973 Phi Beta Kappa poem that was chosen as a prelude to Erich Segal’s The Class, published in 1985.
August 3, 2025 at 1:58 PM
John Updike’s 1973 Phi Beta Kappa poem that was chosen as a prelude to Erich Segal’s The Class, published in 1985.
So soulful - Jalen Ngonda. Like Marvin Gaye. Like in the 70s. Like yesterday.
July 30, 2025 at 1:10 PM
So soulful - Jalen Ngonda. Like Marvin Gaye. Like in the 70s. Like yesterday.
Lenin is also at Bishkek Railway Station. Is he waving to passengers, wishing them a happy journey.
July 14, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Lenin is also at Bishkek Railway Station. Is he waving to passengers, wishing them a happy journey.
The five-pointed star features prominently in front of Lenin; although his ideologies are not as relevant in Kyrgyzstan.
July 14, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The five-pointed star features prominently in front of Lenin; although his ideologies are not as relevant in Kyrgyzstan.
Lenin in Bishkek. Relegated to a less important square but hasn’t been pulled down.
July 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Lenin in Bishkek. Relegated to a less important square but hasn’t been pulled down.
Circassian dance from the Caucasus is about combat & courtship. Circassian dance shares commonalities with ballet; men dance on the tips of their toes while women glide across the floor. The black outfit called a cherkes, a military style outfit with bullet cartridges worn across the chest.
June 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Circassian dance from the Caucasus is about combat & courtship. Circassian dance shares commonalities with ballet; men dance on the tips of their toes while women glide across the floor. The black outfit called a cherkes, a military style outfit with bullet cartridges worn across the chest.
The existential dread
June 25, 2025 at 3:47 AM
The existential dread
The Kalbelia tribe from Rajasthan in India are snake charmers & their dance movements & costumes are inspired by the serpent's motions. Women dancers wear black attire & mimic the movements of a snake to the poongi (a woodwind instrument). The songs are often passed down orally.
June 24, 2025 at 6:47 PM
The Kalbelia tribe from Rajasthan in India are snake charmers & their dance movements & costumes are inspired by the serpent's motions. Women dancers wear black attire & mimic the movements of a snake to the poongi (a woodwind instrument). The songs are often passed down orally.
In the mood to dance. Here’s a Kurdish wedding dance. These lovely ladies move so gracefully. Their dresses and the backdrop of those snow-capped mountains!
June 24, 2025 at 1:43 PM
In the mood to dance. Here’s a Kurdish wedding dance. These lovely ladies move so gracefully. Their dresses and the backdrop of those snow-capped mountains!
Balkan dances from Albania, Bosnia/ Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria. (Not sure if Greece can be considered a Balkan country though).
June 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Balkan dances from Albania, Bosnia/ Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria. (Not sure if Greece can be considered a Balkan country though).
Eléonore Fourniau was born in France & moved to Türkiye to learn Turkish & Kurdish music. Here, she sings an Azerbaijani Mugham at the Philharmonie de Paris a composition by Sami Yusuf, the Iranian-British songwriter of Azerbaijani descent.
June 23, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Eléonore Fourniau was born in France & moved to Türkiye to learn Turkish & Kurdish music. Here, she sings an Azerbaijani Mugham at the Philharmonie de Paris a composition by Sami Yusuf, the Iranian-British songwriter of Azerbaijani descent.
The Khari Bulbul Music Festival (Azerbaijani: Xarıbülbül Musiqi Festivalı) is an international music festival held in Shusha and other cities of the Karabakh region. I have no idea what this boy is singing but music needs no brain; it only needs heart to fall in love.
June 22, 2025 at 6:55 AM
The Khari Bulbul Music Festival (Azerbaijani: Xarıbülbül Musiqi Festivalı) is an international music festival held in Shusha and other cities of the Karabakh region. I have no idea what this boy is singing but music needs no brain; it only needs heart to fall in love.
A word to remember amidst all the chaos around us.
May 9, 2025 at 4:34 AM
A word to remember amidst all the chaos around us.
Hinemoa - A figure in Maori folklore is often associated with water and swimming. Moa or Moana means ocean in Polynesian and Maori language. The Maoris have a spiritual connection with water or Wai. Journeys in the ocean are often considered journeys of self-discovery.
May 4, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Hinemoa - A figure in Maori folklore is often associated with water and swimming. Moa or Moana means ocean in Polynesian and Maori language. The Maoris have a spiritual connection with water or Wai. Journeys in the ocean are often considered journeys of self-discovery.
New Zealand sinks into recession
Aussie dollar and ASX fall to their lowest
Indian rupee hits an all time low
US govt on the brink of a shutdown
(A partridge in a pear tree)
😅 and a Levantine Dabka as a reprieve before tomorrow comes
#santarally #cheeryxmas
Aussie dollar and ASX fall to their lowest
Indian rupee hits an all time low
US govt on the brink of a shutdown
(A partridge in a pear tree)
😅 and a Levantine Dabka as a reprieve before tomorrow comes
#santarally #cheeryxmas
December 20, 2024 at 2:24 PM
New Zealand sinks into recession
Aussie dollar and ASX fall to their lowest
Indian rupee hits an all time low
US govt on the brink of a shutdown
(A partridge in a pear tree)
😅 and a Levantine Dabka as a reprieve before tomorrow comes
#santarally #cheeryxmas
Aussie dollar and ASX fall to their lowest
Indian rupee hits an all time low
US govt on the brink of a shutdown
(A partridge in a pear tree)
😅 and a Levantine Dabka as a reprieve before tomorrow comes
#santarally #cheeryxmas
The winter sun in Hong Kong. All that it touches, turns to gold.
November 27, 2024 at 1:00 AM
The winter sun in Hong Kong. All that it touches, turns to gold.