In Celebration of the Sacred
4 lectures by Prof. Sehdev Kumar
Friday, Nov 6 – The Sacred in Nature
Friday, Nov 13 – The Sacred in Architecture
Friday, Nov 27 – The Sacred in Art
Friday, Dec 4 – The Sacred in Poetry
Centre d’Art Multimedia room, 5 to 6 pm
Lecture 1 – The Sacred in Nature
What makes a forest sacred? Why have rivers, mountains, trees, oceans, and the sky inspired awe and reverence across cultures and ages?
Long before any shrines or temples were built, we encountered the sacred in myriad ways—in the exuberant fecundity and mystery of Nature all around us.
This illustrated lecture explores the eternal and continuing relationship between Nature and the Sacred—from the sacred rivers and mountains of India to forests, springs, and landscapes revered across civilizations. Through paintings, photographs, myths, poetry, and reflections, we will ask whether our ecological crisis is also a crisis of perception: have we forgotten how to see Nature not merely as a resource, but as a sacred presence?
The journey invites us to rediscover wonder, humility, and belonging—and to ask: What might happen when we learn to see Mother Earth as sacred once again?