IN VIDEOS
Celebrating Teeyan in Punjab
Here is a festival for women where they celebrate through gatherings, dance and customs that have endured despite the passage of time.
A heartful of handloom in Maheshwar
From a sleepy hamlet with struggling weavers to a bustling town known for sarees, it’s taken many years for Maheshwar to appear on India’s handloom map. Sally Holkar, known for reviving the sector, tells us about her journey.
Rural themes resonate with celebs and cinema lovers at Chitrashaala
The inaugural edition of Chitrashaala, Village Square’s short film festival on rural India, saw the coming together of filmmakers, actors, cinema lovers and critics at the Alliance Francaise on August 3. Here’s a round-up for those of you who missed the fest!
Ex-poacher turns messiah for the Royal Bengal tiger
An ex-poacher’s conservation efforts help mitigate the human-animal conflict in the Sundarbans.
Chitrashaala – Student winners of short film competition announced!
The jury’s verdict is in! Judges from the Film Critics Guild have hand-picked the winners of Village Square’s competition for college students. Check out the winning movies that will be screened at the Chitrashaala short film festival.
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.
Rekindling girls’ dreams through the lens of art
Girls in Jaswantgarh, a small village on the outskirts of Udaipur, are allowed to express their dreams through art during a unique initiative by Vikalp Sansthan.
‘A woman’s life is similar to that of the land’
A woman’s existence has been poisoned by violence, just like land has been destroyed by chemical use, says social activist Abha Bhaiya. She tells us how at Jagori Rural, an NGO located in Himachal Pradesh, they try to heal both.
A beautiful initiative against the hungry waves
The Sundarbans delta has long faced a livelihood crisis due to several factors. Now, a unified programme incorporating technology has been initiated for the sustainable income of local women.
A visual journey through the saffron town of Kashmir
Welcome to Pampore, the saffron town of Kashmir, where nature's splendour and the region’s cultural heritage converge to create captivating sights and experiences throughout the year.
Traditional Odia sweet magaji ladoo awarded GI tag
Magaji is a beloved sweet of Odisha’s Dhenkanal district. Its makers’ dedication to quality and tradition has earned this remarkable preparation a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, ensuring its authenticity and preservation for future generations.
Women come to mangrove rescue in the Sundarbans
An all-woman group creates a mangrove forest in the Sundarbans to save it from climate disasters.
‘Indian ragas are about getting connected with yourself’
Indian classical musician brothers Neeraj Dholakia and Palash Dholakia talk to Village Square about the popularity they enjoy, the wide reach of Western music and why fusion isn’t all bad.
Women wedding photographers click in Kashmir
More brides are finding comfort in being clicked by female photographers on their big day. Village Square meets two of them.
Tribal girls are kicking conventional norms through football
The defiant all-women football team in rural West Bengal is winning hearts for their skills and resilience, and also bridging the gender divide.
From the corporate sector to the heart of India’s villages
Kavya Saxena has achieved a goal that many aspire to … she made the trek from a life in the city to an idyllic one as a social entrepreneur. Here is how she did it.
Tongawallas of Sopore persist despite modernisation
Horse-drawn carriages have been the choice mode of transport for residents of Sopore, in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the pressure to modernise could take a toll on this environmentally-friendly option soon.
A mother’s determination brings mid-day meals to children in Odisha village
The lack of an anganwadi centre and mid-day meal programme posed challenges for children’s education and nutrition in Kharkhari village until housewife Jyotsna Mohanta took matters into her own hands
Fading notes of Kashmiri santoor
Ghulam Muhammad Zaz could be Kashmir’s last santoor maker, despite the instrument being integral to Sufi and Kashmiri folk music.
This hospital’s accessible, affordable healthcare is a life-saver for villagers
For patients in remote villages of north Kashmir, who had difficulty accessing critical healthcare in urban hospitals, North End Hospital in Pattan has become a life-saver, especially for those seeking treatment under the government’s healthcare scheme.