Readers's Space
Ebony Bokken – A Detailed Guide

Ebony is a kind of hardwood that doesn’t have its origin in European countries. The grains of this wood are of many colors with dark black, brown, and black stripes. The main feature of this wood is its hard texture and density. It is one of the most preserved types of wood. The ebony bokken is commonly used in the making of marquetry, veneers, musical instruments, chess pieces, and high-quality art pieces.
In Mythology too, Ebony is used as a sign of classic and noble beauty. It speaks of positive development. You must have attended magic shows; the magic wands are often made up of ebony.
Bokken is conventionally made out of hardwood, mostly white or red. They are more or less of the same weight and shape as Katana. Though, there is an edition called Suburi Bokken which is quite heavy. Read below to know more about Ebony Bokken:
- It is used in the making of ornamental bokken, and other practices of suburi. The African species of ebony bokken are usually offered to the teachers by their students as a gift on particular occasions. This wood is imported directly from Africa. Every model is chosen according to its pictures and unique features.
- Ebony bokken is also used in the form of wooden swords by martial arts trainers. They are used in Aikido, Kenjutsu, Kendo, Budo/Bujutsu.
- It is also used in the development of muscles used in martial arts and improves the speed of trainers. The concept is that the students will get habitual to training with a heavy weapon first. Then, a bokken or normal sword will make them easy to practice.
- The Bokken is mostly used as a practice weapon, it can be a good weapon to use. It is used by the most popular swordsman Miyamoto Musashi to practice in the dual fights with Katana.
- Mostly, people use them in solo practice drills but can also be used for sparring practice and partner work. They are also suitable in the practice defenses in opposition to attacks using a bokken in various styles. These styles are Aikido, Ju-Jitsu, etc. They are the best katana that are 42 inches in length, so when you are all set for using them, you can start using an original katana.
- Bokken can also be used as a self-defensive weapon. Earlier, many martial art practitioners used to make use of ebony bokken for defending themselves again wild animals. Bokken can also be used for hunting.
That’s all you need to know about ebony bokken and its uses. It is considered a safer alternative to sharp swords and weapons. There are different types of bokkens and ebony is one of them. You can find ebony bokken in and around martial arts centers. It is usually made up of oak and hardwood. You find it to be of the same shape and size as other swords but it is quite different and unique. It is even safe to use for the practitioners.
Readers's Space
Top 10 Best Vape Companies

With the growing popularity of vaping kits, many new vape companies and manufacturers have come up in the last few years.
If you are looking for the names of the best vape companies in the industry, you are in the right place.
Here is a brief rundown:
-
FEELM
FEELM is the world’s leading manufacturer of vaping devices. It makes high-quality vaping devices equipped with the patent atomiser. It is currently available in 50 countries and regions.
-
Innokin
Innokin is known to make easy-to-use and reliable vape kits. It is a Chinese vape manufacturing company that was founded in 2011. This is an award-winning company that makes the best vaping devices for beginners.
-
Vaporesso
Vaporesso vaping devices can be recognized for their great finish. This company makes luxury vaping kits and devices with a fine finish. Unlike other companies, they take customer feedback seriously. So far, they have produced many good devices.
-
Geekvape
If you are looking for a vape pen that is tough and durable, then you should go for Geekvape. This brand has excelled in vaping devices that are dustproof, shockproof, and waterproof. They make vaping kits using military-grade materials.
-
Aspire
There’s a high chance that you already know about this company. Aspire is one of the most popular vaping companies in the market. They have been around for a long time and going on strong. They make unique vape pens that will satisfy even the heaviest of smokers.
-
Hexa
Hexa is popular for making closed vape pods with 5% nicotine content. This is probably the reason why Hexa performs so much better than other pods. Each pod comes with extra battery life and e-liquid capacity.
-
Lost Vape
Lost Vape was founded back in 2014 when the vaping industry was still infancy. Founder Frank Guo came up with a unique collection of high-end devices for vape lovers.
-
Smok
Owned by IVPS Technology, Smok is another great vaping manufacturer. The company offers a diverse range of products suitable for all types of vapers.
-
Voopoo
Founded in 2014, Voopoo has occupied a reputable position in the market. Currently, the company is collaborating with GENE to release some high-quality vape products.
-
Uwell
This company is known to specialize in a variety of vape products. Uwell strives to offer the best quality vape kits to customers.
If you are into a vape, make sure you get the products of these companies next time when you shop. Every company mentioned in the list offers an amazing range of products.
Readers's Space
5 Interesting Indian Wedding Traditions in 2022

An Indian wedding cannot be defined by just one set of rituals or one vision. Indian wedding traditions and customs are diverse. Every different state has a different set of traditions and culture. The true secularity of India reflects through the various kinds of Indian weddings we observe throughout the years, over generations.
Indian weddings can be simple, humble, and peacefully quiet. They can be a big fat pompous show of colours and riches. If we are to observe the various Indian wedding traditions, it is bound to get confusing. Subtle differences mark one custom from another, while some other traditions are totally different from the rest.
Foreigners take a deep interest in traditional Indian weddings. But surprisingly enough, some of us Indians ourselves are not aware of the various types of Indian weddings. As the traditions are flexing to accommodate each other, with interstate and inter-traditional marriages becoming the norm, we need to know about the various Indian wedding customs that exist.
Some Indian wedding customs have stayed put for ages back while some have been incorporated into Western weddings, only recently. Despite the communal issues that surface due to politics, the Indian people are mostly very curious about different traditions and they like to pick up some customs from each other. This is why Indian weddings have elaborate rituals that include the archaic traditions that are carried forward from forefathers unknown, as well as new ones that are appreciated by many because of the thought that goes into them.
Here are some Indian wedding customs that are popular in their own regions and are slowly gaining popularity in other parts of the country.
-
Bengali Wedding Traditions
Bengalis are progressive and Bengali girls and boys are quite a catch, to generalise of course. But the Bengali wedding traditions are still pretty old ones. They reflect the orthodox marriages of some generations past. For example, there is the ‘shubha drishti’, meaning something like the ‘holy meet’.
The Bengali bride enters hiding her face with betel leaves. The ‘saat paak’ in Bengali weddings don’t have the bride and groom encircling the agnee but the bride encircling the groom seven times. She has her face hidden through the seven circles. She is carried by four of her closest male family members or friends. At the end of the seven rounds, she steps down and stands in front of the groom, revealing her face so that the bride and the groom’s eyes can meet. This is ‘shubho drishti’.
Although every Bengali bride and groom knows each other before marriage, and most have been friends or in a relationship for quite a while, the tradition has stuck from times when this ‘shubho drishti’ was literally the first time the bride and the groom met each other in person. Strange it is. But this tradition sets the Bengali wedding apart from every other type of Indian wedding. The Bengali bride putting the betel leaves down and slowly looking up is the symbol of a typical Bengali wedding.
-
Punjabi and Sikh Weddings
Punjabis and Sikhs are the most generous and enthusiastic Indians. Many people consider Punjabis and Sikhs to be the same people because the similar customs they follow and the area they live in. But there are subtle differences between Punjabis and Sikhs. Their traditions are similar, yet not the same. To generalise, they are both impulsive, fun loving, and warm-hearted. So you can imagine what a Punjabi or Sikh wedding would be like, full of colours, lots of food, and a lot of dancing with innovative ideas for sangeet ceremony. But let’s take a look into the ceremonies and wedding rituals as well.
Punjabi wedding rituals begin with the bride’s maternal uncle gifting her the ominous churha. These are red and white bangles that signify the beginning of a wedding and mark the marital status of a woman, as married women wear them after the wedding as well. The Ghara Ghardoli ceremony follows. The bride and the groom are bathed in the holy water at the Gurudwara. All this takes place during the day because the garland exchange and final wedding rituals take place late in the evening.
Punjabi and Sikh weddings are long and stretch into the night. Sikh weddings happen during the day with the ardaas at the Gurudwara. The Punjabi wedding with the mantras and phere itself happens late at night, after the dinner. But there is not a tired soul, not a pair of droopy eyes. The enthusiasm of Punjabis and Sikhs are contagious. If you lack drive in your life, attend a Punjabi or Sikh wedding, or just visit a Sikh family. They are loving, and full of energy. Even if you are the quiet type, their energy is bound to rub off on you.
Some rituals of Punjabi and Sikh weddings are becoming popular in other types of Indian weddings too. Mehendi is already popular and as new event now a days Mehendi party are gracefully organized and has become quite the part of all Indian weddings, even the ones where it wasn’t traditionally a part. Roka, Varmala, Milni, are all originally Punjabi and Sikh wedding rituals.
- Gujarati Wedding Traditions
Gujratis are fun loving too. More than anything else, they are extravagant when it comes to any big ceremony. The Gujratis are the only ones whose enthusiasm come any close to that of Punjabis and Sikhs. They have this loud energy for weddings. There is a grandeur in Gujrati weddings because no matter how calculative they are about money in general when it comes to weddings, they splurge like it’s nobody’s business.
Gujarati weddings are versatile in themselves because there are many sub-sects with different sets of rituals. Patels have a different set of rituals. The Naagars have some Brahmin rituals. Overall, a Gujarati wedding can be distinguished from other Indian weddings because there are some typical differences. A Gujarati mangal phera comprises just four phere instead of the usual seven in most other Indian wedding traditions. This four phere signify ‘Dharma’, ‘Artha’, ‘Kama’, and ‘Moksha’, the four pillars of a successful marriage according to Gujarati culture and belief. The Jaimaala in a Gujarati wedding is exchanged twice, instead of the usual just one time, or three times.
Some Gujarati weddings have the kanku kanya ritual. The bride is accepted with the vermillion being the only sign of marriage on her. She comes without any dowry, just as she is. This progressive ritual is typical to Naagar Brahmin Gujarati weddings. Gujratis are businesspeople and many marriages have their roots in business partnerships. But when it comes to the bride, she is given utmost importance, over any money or dowry. Or at least, so is the ritual.
-
Tamil Weddings Traditions
Tamil weddings are the most elaborate. Yes, without a doubt, Tamil wedding rituals are the most elaborate. Some rituals are short while some are long but they are all essential. Even modern Tamil weddings don’t skip any of the important rituals. They start with Panda Kaal Muhurtham and sumangali poojas to bless the wedding day and the married women at the wedding.
These rituals are followed by pallikai thellichal and naandi shrardham rituals. After all, this comes the engagement or Nichayathartham. A Ganesh pooja is mandatory at the beginning of the engagement. Then comes kumkum, chandan, and garlands, followed by the ring exchange.
Lagna pathirikai, mangala snaanam, Gauri pooja, Kashi yatra, pada pooja, and Oonjal follow. Then comes kanyadaan, muhurtham, and saptapadi to complete the wedding. The wedding itself is followed by three rituals, sammandhi maryathai, grihapravesh, and valeyadal. Tamil weddings seem to go on forever creating memories and exciting wedding stories. It brings out the seriousness Indian traditions are dealt with even in modern weddings.
-
Maharashtrian Wedding Traditions
Maharashtrian weddings have elaborate rituals starting with the engagement. It is called ‘shakhar puda’. The bride is given a saree and some sweets as blessings from her new family-to-be. Kelvan and Haldi ceremonies take place at the bride’s home as well as at the groom’s home.
On the wedding day, the couple has a barrier of a silk shawl between them and the ‘mangalashtak’ is recited. There are quite a few rituals before tying the knot, one of the rituals being the bride and groom officially asking for their parents’ permission to do so. After this, the phere and the whole wedding process takes place. It all happens during the day.
After the wedding, it is time for Grihapravesh, which is typical to many Indian weddings. But in a Maharashtrian wedding, the bride and groom’s feet are washed with milk before they enter the bride’s new home. Maharashtrian wedding rituals are elaborate but the food and celebrations aren’t ignored. The food and hospitality the guests receive are bountiful.
These are some of the richest Indian wedding traditions as well as the commonest. They are versatile and elaborate, fun and serious. An Indian wedding has it all.