The term ‘Seven Sisters’ has several connotations. In Greek mythology, they were Merope, Taygete, Maia, Electra, Alcyone, Celaeno and Asterope - the daughters of Atlas, protector of the skies, and Pleione, protectress of sailors. The ‘Seven Sisters’ are also a group of mountains in Australia, Norway and Ireland. In India, the North-Eastern states are called the ‘Seven Sisters’. At our Online Talk #SevenSisters, sociologist Dr Omkar Bhatkar refers to a lesser-known septet, the seven sister-goddesses of Goa - Kelbai, Mahamaya, Lairai, Mirabai (or Milagres Sabin), Morjai, Sheetalai , Azadeepa - and their brother, Khetoba, each with their own shrine and devotees, at a distance away from each other, and recounts the tale of these ancient divine siblings.

About the speaker: Dr Omkar Bhatkar is a sociologist with a doctoral thesis dealing in Proxemics and Social Ecology. His academic interests include Cultural Studies, Phenomenology, Film Theory, Aesthetics and Visual Communication, Gender Studies, Existentialism and Inter-religious Studies. He has contributed research papers for several national and international journals as well as chapters to books. He is a visiting professor at St. Andrew’s College and Pravin Gandhi College of Law, and is the Co-Founder and Head of St. Andrew’s Centre for Philosophy and Performing Arts, whose aim is to bridge art and academics.