4th Dimension

“ I want to write, but I don't have readers .” With this quiet lament, Nagendra Vijay; editor of Safar, announced the end of a magazine that, for over four decades, had faithfully delivered science in Gujarati to curious minds across India. For me, someone who love to finish reading entire issue of safari as soon as it arrives; Its closure is not merely a matter of lost pages but a signal of a much deeper cultural crisis: the erosion of scientific temperament in contemporary India. Safari kept me ahead from my time, I knew about Brahmos in 1997, I knew about Gazi Attack, Iraq evacuations, RAW missions, Massod Missions, Gaza Conflicts, Afghan war etc. before films/series were made on them through safari, Safari covered, history, polity and sociological topics in most engaging and intriguing ways. This magazine played vital role in groming my personality, my career and my thinking pattern. Now I think, what happened to a country that once positioned science at the heart of its nation...

Holi’s roots extend deep into antiquity, with references appearing in early Sanskrit texts such as the Purva Mimamsa Sutras and the Kathaka Grihya Sutras, which describe springtime festivities resembling Holi. The Puranas further elaborate on Holi’s significance, particularly the Narada Purana and the Bhavishya Purana, which mention a festival named Holika or Holikotsav. These accounts, along with a 300 BCE inscription from Central India referencing Holikotsav, confirm its existence as an ancient public celebration. The festival was initially tied to agricultural cycles and lunar worship, particularly the full moon of the Phalguna month. Early celebrations were likely intimate family rituals performed by married women seeking prosperity for their households. However, as Holi merged with broader social customs, it evolved into a more exuberant communal festival marking the arrival of spring. Mythology also played a crucial role in Holi’s rise. The most well-known legend is that of Prahl...