VILLAGE VIBE
Wedding gift ideas inspired by traditional Indian art
Given the growing interest in local Indian art, we bring to you an exhaustive list of arts and crafts from the subcontinent that you can gift this wedding season. Here’s the first of this two-part feature.
Rural startups that won over the sharks
From handmade sarees to pickles and agricultural robots, Shark Tank India Season 3 showcased several startups that empowered rural communities.
Food, the great unifier in a diverse country
The way to anyone’s heart is through the stomach. Village Square compiles visuals from across the rural tracts of India highlighting the place of food in the daily life of all Indians.
Key Monastery – The Crown Jewel of Spiti
The grand and majestic Key Monastery, nestled on a hill above the Key Village in Spiti Valley, is an important Buddhist centre. It attracts tourists and astrophotographers alike, who can stay in the monastery guest house and enjoy the local food.
The silent scream of Noh Ka Likai falls
Behind the breathtaking beauty of India's tallest plunge waterfall lies a heart-wrenching story, one that gives a sorrowful depth to its stunning cascade.
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.
IN VIDEOS
This new year, try bungee jumping in Bir
Head to the mountains to give your new year a jump-start, literally. Try out bungee jumping and sky cycling on your next trip to Bir, Himachal. Launched by a group of boys from the village in 2018, Tiger Team Adventures is a new addition to the handful of bungee sites in India.
The bangle heart of India
The story offers a vivid exploration of traditional craftsmanship in a bangle-making factory. It showcases the intricate processes and artistry involved in creating vibrant, ornate bangles, highlighting both the manual skills and tools essential to this art form.
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).
RURAL NEWS
How integrated farming saved the day for Andhra farmer
Madhusudan Rao and his wife Karamma, from the Soura community in Andhra Pradesh, fought challenges like illiteracy to embrace progressive farming techniques. Their success has inspired others from the region.
Drought to abundance: water harvesting turns the tide for this Dewas village
Several measures adopted by the residents of the Magradeh village, in rural Madhya Pradesh, including building a check dam and switching to natural farming, are helping change the fortunes of its villagers.
The bangle heart of India
The story offers a vivid exploration of traditional craftsmanship in a bangle-making factory. It showcases the intricate processes and artistry involved in creating vibrant, ornate bangles, highlighting both the manual skills and tools essential to this art form.
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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