Intricate patterns in rich red hues drawn on the hands of a bride are thought to carry blessings and symbolise the prosperity she will bring to her new family. The ritual may have originated in India, or perhaps in the Egypt of the pharaohs.

Repeatedly raped and beaten as a child, Damien Rider sought refuge in drugs, and had attempted suicide four times by his 30s. He took up endurance sports, and surviving a dangerous solo paddle board trip was to prove transformational.

When Garth McLean was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his mid-30s, yoga helped him so much, he trained to become a yoga teacher. He has been medicine-free for 17 years, and now helps others with MS.

From yoga and mindfulness to sound healing, a series of health and wellness events for people with special needs is taking place in Hong Kong this month.

Family, community and nationality help teens form an image of who they are when growing up, but for cross-cultural teens and third culture kids, these anchors can be unstable.

Made of cotton, silk or both, and sometimes richly embroidered, there are different ways of weaving and wearing the sari everywhere you go in India. A staple of bridal trousseaus, a well-made sari can last for generations.

The vindaloo curry originated 5,500 miles to the west of India, in Portugal, and was brought there by Portuguese explorers. It has since become a popular dish in Britain, where ‘spicy vindaloo eating challenges’ became common.

The fluffy and crispy stuffed pancake made from fermented batter is a South Indian breakfast staple and has become popular around the world.

Crowds still flock to a 115-year-old restaurant in Lucknow, India, to taste its galouti kebab, first made for a king who’d lost all his teeth. It’s one of many variations on a dish brought to India by Persian traders.

Two Bollywood superstars, Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar, are helping drive a resurgence of socially conscious cinema in India, through films such as Dangal, Padman and Guilty.

Street food is incredibly popular in India, enjoyed by all classes. We look at the history of three of the country’s favourite snacks.

In crop tops, harem pants and stilettos, professional belly dancer Eshan Hilal, from Delhi, is smashing gender stereotypes. That’s because Hilal is a man, and from a traditional Muslim family.

It’s more than just a fruit – the mango is an intrinsic part of India’s culture, a country where it has a long and varied history and where emperors have imprisoned their own children over it.

There are various origin stories about the South Asian dish of spiced meat and rice, and cities have their own recipes. But one thing the people of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh can agree on is that it is a symbol of what unites them.

Founded by Catholic priest Father Joseph Pereira, the Kripa Foundation blends the teachings of Mother Teresa, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning missionary, and yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar.

When Alison Brock was diagnosed with cancer, she identified factors that may have contributed to it, including lack of sleep, stress and anxiety – and embraced yoga and the traditional Indian medicine known as Ayurveda to overcome them.

Cancer survivor Dexter D’Souza discovered he had a tumour the size of a beer bottle growing in his leg just three months after running the New York City Marathon. Cycling, a diet change, yoga and golf all boosted his recovery.

Meri Zindagi are unlike other Indian girl bands, which perform covers of film songs. Members of the all-female rock band are on a mission to use music as a tool to raise awareness about gender inequality and empowerment.

Salvation comes to those who die in the holy city of Kashi because it breaks the eternal cycle of life and death, Hindus believe. Hostels such as Mukti Bhawan serve as short-stay accommodation for guests at death’s door.

Tim Grandage was so shocked by the child poverty he found when he was posted to Kolkata 32 years ago he founded a charity, Future Hope, to rescue street kids and give them a better shot at life.

In India, nearly 200 million people have mental health problems and there is fewer than one psychiatrist for every 100,000 people. Juno Clinic, a start-up, offers easy access to online counselling from professionals.

The Durga Puja festival is devoted to Hindu goddess Durga who was created to vanquish a buffalo-headed demon. A time of exuberance, food and laughter, people from all walks of life mingle freely on the streets for the whole 10 days.

With high rates of poverty, childhood marriage and illiteracy, girls in Jharkhand have few prospects. An NGO uses soccer and education to empower impoverished girls and give them courage and confidence.

After losing her leg in a horrific robbery in her native India, Arunima Sinha refused to give in to despair. She decided to climb Mount Everest and is now ready to tackle the last peak of the Seven Summits Challenge

The annual Evolution Asia Yoga Conference features more than 165 lectures and workshops. Meet the gurus who will be hosting workshops to help you zap workplace stress.

The Robin Hood Army was founded five years ago by three Indians as a volunteer-based organisation fighting hunger in the country’s communities. It has since gone global.

Sri Dharma Mittra, Noah Mazé and Christopher Wallis have a combined 110 years of yoga experience and will be leading sessions at the conference. The annual Evolution Asia Yoga Conference features more than 165 lectures and workshops.

Briohny Smyth and ‘Action’ Jacquelyn Umof, who will hold sessions live in Hong Kong this month at the Evolution Asia Yoga Conference, talk about their favourite poses, why they practice, and the results that can be achieved.

The skateboarding craze is sweeping India, and prompting cultural change. India’s first professional skateboarder Atita Verghese wants girls to use the sport to break down social barriers, and have fun doing it

Michael Cartwright took up running at 44 to lose weight, but thought marathoners were crazy; after completing one in 2006, though, he caught the marathon bug. Now 60, the retired Hong Kong police officer offers his tips on running 42.1km.