Malda
Yesterday we celebrated 73 years of diplomatic ties between India and the Philippines! Let’s look back at a word that shows historical and linguistic connections between two of the world’s most populous countries today!
Since it’s also the Christmas season in the Christmas Capital of the Philippines, featured here is the Kapampángan giant Christmas star lantern or parul! Don’t you think it resembles the mandala rangolis seen during Diwali (Festival of Lights) in India?
MALDÂ • (muhl-DA’)
crowd, multitude, the public, the people
Tagálog: madlâ
Etymology
From Sanskrit मण्डल (maṇḍala) “circle, multitude”
A mandala is an artistic representation of higher thought and deeper meaning given as a geometric symbol (often circular) used in spiritual, emotional, or psychological work to focus one’s attention.
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