This book presents current discussions on the concept of genre. It introduces innovative, multidisciplinary approaches to contemporary and historical genres, their roles in cultural discourse, how they change, and their relations to each other. The reader is guided into the discussion surrounding this key concept and its history through a general introduction, followed by eighteen chapters that represent a variety of discursive practices as well as analytic methods from several scholarly traditions. This volume will have wide appeal to several academic audiences within the humanities, both in Finland and abroad, and will especially be of interest to scholars of folklore, language and cultural expression.

Narrative Cultures and the Aesthetics of Religion studies narrativity as situated modes of engaging with reality in religious contexts across the globe, equally shaped by the immersive character of the stories told and the sensory qualities of their performances.

Papers presented at a seminar held at Chandigarh during 1-2 February 2005.

It serves as a standard reference book giving a lucid profile, historical background, religion and customs of its post independence problems and developments.

This Study Is Intended To Collect At One Place The Experiences Of The Explorers Who Have Done Remarkable Work, And Cover The Information Gap Regarding The Natives, Their Culture, Socio-Economic Activities, And Problems And Prospects Of This Fascinating Area.

The Ghrits inhabiting the Kangra Valley is a demographic uniqueness of the Kangra hills. An ICS officer in 1848 described the Ghrits (Ghirath) physiognomy as peculiar to the Kangra hills. Throughout the country this caste is found only in Kangra hills of Himachal Pradesh. Many people believe that Ghrit is a puranic caste and the Ghrits are the original inhabitants of Trigarta of the Mahabharta period, which also led to locate the Trigarta in Kangra. However, the aboriginality of the Ghrits in Kangra has not been supported by any fact and it is based just on the surmises and suppositions. In the present work the origin of the Ghrit caste has been traced with the help of physiognomic, historical, sociological and linguistic facts supported by art forms, traditions, culture, occupation etc. The long standing controversy about the right place of the Ghrit caste in the four Varnas has also been settled with the help of historical facts. This book gives an insight about the physiognomy, nature, religious beliefs, occupation etc. of the Ghrits in detail. It also provides an opportunity to the urban populace of this caste to know about their culture and traditions which are fast disappearing due to technological advancements and changing pursuits for livelihood among the youth.