VILLAGE VIBE
Indian Traditional Art in Weddings
Every region in India has its own unique art style which is an integral part of the wedding festivities to usher in fertility, prosperity, and auspiciousness. Their stories, rooted in folklore, make for a riveting read.
The people of this MP village fear building roofs
Despite gentle interventions by the government, the people of Kaf village, in Madhya Pradesh, hold on to a unique superstition that prevents them from building concrete roofs. This belief is a double-edged sword, discovers Village Square.
Himachal’s very own wild cherry blossom
Locally known as Pajja in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, the Wild Himalayan Cherry is native to the lower Himalayan region. The tree bears bitter fruits that the locals don’t consume, but its pink blossoms envelop the landscape beautifully in November.
Gonbo Rongjon: The mountain where people see God
While Tibetan Buddhists of Zanskar Valley hold the mountain in high spiritual regard, many trekkers and adventurists come simply to experience its grandeur. At 5,520 metres, Gonbo Rongjon is impossible to miss in the remote valley.
Hornbill festival, a unique spectacle of Nagaland’s cultural roots
The Hornbill festival held in Kohima Nagaland from 1-10 December each year showcases the cultural diversity of the region’s 17 Naga tribes. Featuring traditional music, dance, crafts, and cuisine, this year the festival celebrates its 25th anniversary as it offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the rich heritage of the state.
Ogla, the blushing buckwheat blossom
Buckwheat, aka ogla, is mostly known for its grain-like seeds used in cooking. But take a look at its flower! When ogla fields blossom in one of the few places it grows in India, the whole Sangla Valley in Himachal Pradesh blushes pink.
Dreams of Forest Fringe Bodo kids
On the fringe of the Nameri National Park and Reserve Forest, an initiative is helping develop the education and dreams of Bodo tribal children. A self-sustaining model of school management, the initiative by Assam Investment Advisory Society (AIAS) with the Upendra Nath Brahma ME School provides high quality and holistic education to its children. On Children' s day photographer Vicky Roy shares the story of these children in their native Bodo Language.
Nature at the heart of Bihar’s vibrant Chhath Puja
As many across the country participate in the sacred rituals of Chhath Puja today, Village Square presents the visual story of the festival.
IN VIDEOS
The Andamans on a shoestring
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are some of the most pristine, ecologically fragile islands in the world.. Here’s how to explore the Islands in an ecologically responsible way, that too on a budget.
A Himalayan baithak of folk music & qawwali
The ‘baithak’, or an intimate setting in which musical performances took place, is slowly fading. The Amarrass Society for Performing Arts, in partnership with Village Square, is reviving this tradition by hosting a baithak of folk music and qawwali in the beautiful hills of Uttarakhand.
I am not the guardian of Uttarakhand’s folk traditions
Sarvjeet Tamta, a self-taught qawwali singer and harmonium virtuoso from Almora, delves into his love for the folk music of his state, his journey with his band Himali Mou and their alter ego Rehmat-e-Nusrat, playing to packed houses across the globe today and his dalit background.
RURAL NEWS
Jharkhand’s star millionaire farmers, up in the sky
Farming can be profitable and make farmers millionaires! To celebrate their “star” farmers, Transform Rural India (TRI) organised a Millionaire Farmers Breakfast at Mumbai’s favourite farm-to-table restaurant, Project Hum to celebrate Kisan Diwas (December 23).
Cultivating an ecological consciousness
Shunya, a permaculture farm that started over a decade ago, in Himachal’s Bir village embodies the vision of regenerative farming. Transitioning through many hands, it is now being cared for by farmer Jeewika Bhat and her initiative ‘Seeds and Deeds’, which aims to take it a step further.
From despair to dignity: Sonadei’s story of hope
Sonadei Nag’s journey from abandonment to empowerment showcases the transformative power of women’s collectives. Through SHG support, agriculture, and entrepreneurship, she overcame societal barriers to secure a future for her children, inspiring her entire community to thrive.
India’s unsung heroes – women navigating their way through a changing country. Her accomplishments, her struggles, her livelihood, her home, her hopes. Her life.
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How this 15-year-old Odisha girl ‘sprinted’ to a weightlifting record
Preetismita Bhoi made headlines at this year’s IWF World Youth Championships. She tells us how she moved from sprinting to weightlifting due to her coach’s perseverance, and the inspiration she derived from her idol Mirabai Chanu.
How a struggling widow became a micro-entrepreneur
Widowed young, Basanti Nahaka of Odisha was financially struggling till she joined a producer group. With support from her group, she extracts and sells mustard oil in her village and other places, which improves her finances.
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Events
Chitrashaala – Village Square’s short film fest trains the lens on rural India
Watch powerful films like Giddh (The Scavanger) and Last Days of Summer, interact with film personalities Muzaffar Ali, Adil Hussain, Faisal Malik and others, and learn more about rural India at Chitrashaala, Village Square’s short film festival.
Programmes
Capacity Building Programme
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Development Communications Training
Village Square announces a certified training program for students interested in the communications domain. This internship program will give you an opportunity to get trained from leading industry experts and enhance all your skillsets i.e, required to be a good communication specialist. Starting from 30th November, 2023
Fellowship
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Village Square announces its fellowship
Village Square Fellowship 2023 is for youth to tell the powerful stories of rural India. The 9 months fellowship will include a monthly stipend of Rs 35,000 along with training from leading sector-experts.
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