Story Archives - Page 5 of 27

Mudhi and Jhal Mudhi : A Socio-Culinary History of Eastern India

Mudhi and Jhal Mudhi : A Socio-Culinary History of Eastern India By Lokanath Mishra, Jenamath Lane, Puri. The history of mudhi—puffed rice—is a compelling example of how a modest, subsistence food can travel across regions, classes, and historical moments to become a widely celebrated culinary symbol. Rooted in the agrarian life of Odisha, mudhi’s journey […]

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The Corridor of Unspoken Choices

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The Corridor of Unspoken Choices By Lokanath Mishra The corridor was unusually quiet that afternoon, as if the building itself had paused to listen to something unspoken. Sunita stood by the railing, her fingers lightly gripping the cool iron bars, her eyes fixed somewhere far beyond the campus walls. Students passed by in clusters—laughing, arguing,

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Chandan Yatra

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Chandan Yatra: The Cooling Festival of Lord Jagannath — Mythology, Mahabharata Roots, and Living Tradition By Lokanath Mishra, Jenamath Lane, Puri. Chandan Yatra is one of the most enchanting and symbolically rich festivals associated with Lord Jagannath in Puri. Celebrated during the peak of summer, it harmoniously blends ritual devotion, mythological memory, and community participation

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The Silence Between Two Hearts

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The Silence Between Two Hearts By Lokanath Mishra A reflective narrative for journal publication There are stories that roar into existence with declarations, dramatic gestures, and unmistakable conclusions. And then there are stories that unfold quietly—so quietly, in fact, that the world barely notices them at all. Yet within their silence lies a depth more

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Ashes of Illusion – Part V : The Shape of Peace

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Ashes of Illusion – Part V: The Shape of Peace By Lokanath Mishra The year turned quietly. There was no announcement, no milestone that marked the shift. Rajesh simply woke up one morning and realized that his life no longer felt like something he was recovering from. It felt… lived. Winter had softened into spring.

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Ashes of Illusion – Part IV : What Remains

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Ashes of Illusion – Part IV: What Remains By Lokanath Mishra The river Ananya had mentioned was not extraordinary. That was precisely why Rajesh liked it. No crowd, no noise, no vendors calling out. Just a long stretch of quiet water moving at its own pace, reflecting the pale gold of the evening sky. It

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Ashes of Illusion Pt3: Rajesh Finds Ananya & True Clarity

Ashes of Illusion – Part III : The Weight of Silence

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Ashes of Illusion – Part III: The Weight of Silence By Lokanath Mishra Time did not heal Rajesh. It refined him. The years that followed the divorce were not dramatic. There were no sudden successes, no miraculous turning points. Instead, life moved in a quiet, deliberate rhythm—like a river that had learned to flow around

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A Prayerful Reflection on My Daughter’s Birthday

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A Prayerful Reflection on My Daughter’s Birthday By Lokanath Mishra On this sacred day, as the calendar marks the 21st of April, my heart turns inward in gratitude, remembrance, and prayer. It was on this very day in 1987 that my daughter Priyanka entered this world—an arrival that forever transformed my life, not merely as

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Ashes of Illusion – Part II

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Ashes of Illusion – Part II By Lokanath Mishra The first court notice arrived on a humid afternoon. Rajesh held the envelope in his hand for several minutes before opening it. Though he had anticipated legal escalation, anticipation never softened reality. The allegations were structured, formal, and cold—words that reduced an entire marriage into accusations

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Ashes of Illusion: ( Part-1)

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Ashes of Illusion: ( Part-1) By Lokanath Mishra Rajesh had always been the kind of man people admired quietly. Not because he sought attention, but because his life itself was a reflection of discipline, intellect, and simplicity. At thirty-two, he was already an assistant professor at a reputed university. His lectures were clear, his demeanor

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