Photo Essays
The island village that gets cut off every monsoon
With the lone bridge connecting it to the mainland getting dismantled every monsoon, the island of Pavoor Uliya in Karnataka becomes completely isolated for several months each year.
This colourful card game from Odisha is art
Ganjapa, a traditional card game of Odisha, introduced by the Persians in the 16th century, features hand-painted circular cards depicting Hindu deities. Its popularity has dwindled, but art lovers appreciate the cards as decorative items.
Sal-sufficient: Leafy tableware of Odisha’s Santhal tribe
Santhal women in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district are preserving their ancient heritage by making plates and bowls from sal leaves. However, the arrival of plastic products in remote tribal areas is fast wiping out the practice.
Check out Sarakapatna’s vibrant ‘Hastatanta’ sarees
Sarakapatna in Odisha is the home of 'Hastatanta' sarees that weave a tapestry of beauty and tradition. The rhythmic clatter of tanta (looms) echoes in every household, a testament to the enduring artistry of this captivating craft.
Making of Punjabi Jutti
Punjab is well known for its juttis – footwear made of leather. In the southern region of the state, called Malwa, districts such as Patiala, Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib are among the manufacturers of the footwear – the last one being the most famous.
Could this Odisha tribal snack start a food trend?
Palami Mallick, 65, who belongs to the Kutia Kondh tribe in Odisha's Kandhamal district, prepares mandia pitha using ragi and other ingredients. This particularly vulnerable tribal group has a strong cultural association with millets.
Fishing and fresh springs: Kashmiri festival unites villages
The Panzath fishing festival, locally known as Rohan Posh, is a centuries-old tradition wherein hundreds of people from multiple villages gather at Qazigund's Panzath village in Kashmir to fish and clean the water body.
All that glitters in Antia village is indeed gold
The centuries-old use of golden grass in making crafts is financially empowering the women of Jajpur in Odisha. A GI tag and aggressive marketing can improve things further.
Nature’s gifts to Tamil Nadu temple town
On this World Environment Day, these pictures from villages surrounding the temple town of Srivilliputtur in Tamil Nadu show the beautiful beings that live among us, urging us to protect them and their habitat.
What palmyra palm means to Andhra
From thatch roofs to tasty vadas (fried fritters), parts of the palmyra palm are used in various ways, with even its sap being a summer delicacy. Here are some snapshots of how it’s used in rural Andhra Pradesh.
Bicycling through rural India
Explore Indian village life through the iconic sight of people cycling through fields. Presenting the winning entries from our World Bicycle Day photography contest, capturing this quintessential image in all its glory.
Turtuk villagers piece together their broken pasts
The village that became a part of India overnight in 1971 stands witness to the longing felt by the residents who hold to the memories of their broken families and cultural landscape.
Khejri – the wonder tree of Thar desert
The khejri tree is a lifeline for the desert ecosystem in Rajasthan as it provides food and shelter to many animals, besides being used by humans for its fruit and leaves.
Cup full of joy — tea time in India
Tea is more than a beverage for Indians. It’s an emotion, an obsession. Many stories, conversations and moments of bonding unfold over a cup of chai at tapris (kiosks) across India every day. Here are some snapshots.
The last of Kashmir’s flour water mills
Traditional water flour mills once thrived in Kashmir but only a few survive now. Called aab-e-gratte, these mills are cost-effective and run on water current from streams. They are mostly operated by the elderly – perhaps the last generation pursuing this profession.
Step-by-step guide to make red ant chutney
The red weaver ant is an integral part of the diet of tribal communities in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district. During the lean season, when there is no standing crop, tribals often sell these insects in the local market to make a living.
New print on the block
You know about Rajasthan’s Sanganeri and Bagru block prints, admire their imperfections and perhaps have a wardrobe full of them. But have you seen Jhag – the newest print in the collections of some of the reputed Indian handloom brands?
Hard at work – Vignettes from villages
They tug, they slog, they literally bear the weight of the system. This Labour Day, let’s recognise the struggles of workers who resisted oppression a century ago, and who toil daily to make ends meet and make this country function.
Peep into the Eid celebrations of Kashmir’s Gujjar tribe
"Eid aaye rase rase, eid-gah waes waey (Steadily, steadily Eid has arrived, let’s go to eidgah)..." As the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, Kashmir’s Gujjar tribe gathers to celebrate three days of Eid in the most colourful way.
Chhattisgarh’s magical mahua flowers in pics
Versatile and rich in nutrition, mahua is an important forest produce for the tribal communities in Chhattisgarh. Families store dried mahua in bulk to make mahua liquor, a popular beverage in the region.