Author: Village Square
Don’t miss these cultural fests of February
February marks the arrival of spring and a vibrant array of cultural festivals in India. Here are five such fests that you can attend this month.
Traditional boats – A dying reality
Once a thriving part of the subcontinent, today traditional boats, which include canoes, rafts and sailboats, are all a dying reality. As mechanised boats take over and fishing becomes an organised sector, artisans, as well as the craft of making traditional boats, may become less visible. We take you on a visual journey of boats across India.
A village tourism bucket list for art lovers
It’s a double whammy for lovers of rustic art with this list of must-visit attractions in the hinterland where you can enjoy gazing at creative masterpieces. Read on to get fresh ideas on where to go over the long weekends of 2025.
Are we doing enough for our girls?
On National Girl Child Day 2025 we look at the lived realities of girls across rural India. The theme this year is ‘Empowering girls for a brighter future’, but as a society are we doing enough to ensure their health and wellbeing so that they are ready to take on roles of responsibility as adults and future leaders? Let's look at some indicators.
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.
All you need to know about mammoth Maha Kumbh mela
The biggest gathering of humanity on earth, the Maha Kumbh mela, kicked off on January 13, 2025, at Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj. Here’s the lowdown on the festival, and what you could do if you plan a visit here.
National Youth Day inspires rural young to dream big in 2025
As India celebrated National Youth Day on 12 January 2025, Village Square met the country’s rural youth to inquire about their aspirations for the new year. Hear them share their 2025 wishlist.
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.
Must-see rural festivals in January
From lively harvest festivals to dance, the countryside is buzzing with vibrant celebrations in January. Here are 5 such rural festivals you won’t want to miss.
TARAgram Yatra 2024: ‘Investing in the Local & Green’
The three-day TARAgram Yatra 2024, hosted by Development Alternatives (DA), took participants on an immersive tour of Bundelkhand, giving them an insight into rural India and its developmental programmes.
IIT alumni create Mobile Subjee Cooler to cut post-harvest losses
The Mobile Subjee Cooler is an efficient, eco-friendly and affordable solution to reduce post-harvest losses. The innovation, incubated by RuTAG at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, is empowering the farming community.
A chocolaty Christmas, rooted in India
Looking for some sweet treats for your loved ones during Christmas? Look no further because here are some of the finest farm-to-bar chocolates from India. About time Swiss and Belgian chocolates took a break.
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).
Economically empowered women can drive India’s growth
A latest edition of State of India’s Livelihoods (SOIL) Report, the flagship Report by ACCESS Development Services, highlights the potential of 'women-led development' and advocates the need to enable women to become active contributors to the economy.
IIT helps innovate an efficient puffed rice machine
The compact, eco-friendly machine produces 50 kg of puffed rice per hour, taking out the drudgery from the process. The innovation has been incubated by RuTAG at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, empowering rural communities.
Majestic mountain escapes beyond the Indian Himalayas
December 11 is International Mountain Day, and we’re giving you the lowdown on mountain destinations outside Himalayan country. So if you’re heading for the hills anytime soon, check out these high-altitude spots in the lesser-known ranges of India.
IIT Delhi makes traditional pottery kiln efficient and eco friendly
Pottery kilns are notorious polluters. But the introduction of the rat-trap wall brick masonry technique is drastically reducing fuel consumption and resulting in incremental savings to boot.
IIT helps tech behind cold-pressed oil be light-weight, affordable
Cold-pressed oil is in high demand for its health benefits. Now a technology developed by D-IV Enterprises, incubated by RuTAG at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, enables rural people to extract oil at a fraction of the cost.
This innovation has mechanised weaving for rural weavers
The advent of the 6-spindle Pirn Winding Machine is a boon for weavers who would find it difficult to transport bulky machines for weaving into remote hilly areas where the trade is often practiced. Here’s more on the invention.
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.