Village Vibe

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Maharashtra’s fiery Bhiwapuri chilli faces extinction

Bhiwapuri chilli, known for its bright red colour, intense heat and cultural significance, is teetering on brink as farmers face low yields and turn towards growing hybrid varieties.

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What it’s like to travel in an all-woman train

Introduced by the West Bengal government, Matribhumi trains are meant exclusively for women's mobility. Though two mixed compartments were added post the protests in 2015, women still opt for it, valuing its comfort and safety.

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Manipuri film ‘Andro Dreams’ dribbles past gender stereotype

Filmmaker Meena Longjam’s ‘Andro Dreams’ breaks the mould of sports films, offering a nuanced perspective on a Manipur village, challenging societal norms through the lens of an all-girls football team.

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Why Odisha wants a GI tag for Koraput coffee

As Koraput coffee of Odisha embarks on an arduous journey to secure a geographical indication tag, farmers believe the recognition isn’t just a label but a celebration of their unique contribution to the global coffee tapestry.

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Cultivating liquid gold in Uttarakhand’s tea odyssey

A brew of tradition and ambition unfolds in the lush terrains of Nainital as sustained efforts to grow tea by 10 villages and the Uttarakhand tea board are reaching fruition.

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Rural fests you can attend this December

India is bursting with celebrations - from colourful traditions and rituals to music, dance, sports and delicious food. Come and experience the magic of India's festivals taking place in December 2023.

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Add this tourism village in Kerala to your itinerary

The recent recognition of Kanthalloor in Kerala’s Idukki district as one of India’s top five tourism villages exemplifies its commitment to ecological sustainability, agricultural prosperity, and responsible tourism.

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All you can find at the Banni pashu mela of Kutch

The Banni pashu mela, set against the mystical White Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, celebrates the revered Banni breed of buffalo and showcases the symbiotic bond between breeders and their livestock.

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Tezpur’s artistry in motion

One of Assam’s oldest handloom enterprise is a small scale family run business, employing fifteen rural women who have been weaving their magic into the traditional looms for 35 years to create unique motifs in sarees and dress materials in Tezpur.

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Building homes, the natural way

This architect couple is on a journey to revive, document and promote the traditional ways of constructing natural buildings, through their Thannal Natural Homes initiative in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu.

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This hidden library in Spiti is a book lover’s paradise

When Takpa Tanzin saw his daughter struggling to find reference books for her coursework during the Covid-19 lockdown, he built a library in Chicham, their remote village in Spiti valley.

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Tangkhul Naga catering start-up transforms traditional feasts

In Manipur’s Ukhrul district, where the concept of catering is a novelty, Hao services caterers has revolutionised Tangkhul Naga norms surrounding feasts and empowered local women, who cook magical dishes and earn a decent income.

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In step with Assam’s Sattriya dance

Kashinath Krishnapriya Institute of Performing Arts (KKIPA), Tezpur, Assam promotes India's Sattriya and Odissi Dance styles. Based in Tezpur's interior regions, they try their best to maintain the balance between the local and elite traditions.

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Jharkhand’s Sohrai art gets makeover for wider appeal

Jharkhand’s ancient Sohrai art, nurtured by Padma Shri Bulu Imam and his sons, transforms from rural murals to sarees and contemporary marvels at GI Fair India Expo and Mart 2023 in Noida

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Kashmiri Muslims preserve ancient Shiva temple

The existence of an ancient Shiva temple in the predominantly Islamic village of Payer in Pulwama becomes a tale of communal harmony and historical preservation.

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A day at Pushkar camel fair

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A day spent at Pushkar camel festival unfolds a tornado of sights, sounds and feelings. We made a touch-and-go visit and returned with a mind full of memories and a memory card full of photos.

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Visit Kutch’s colourful craft village Nirona

Known for its rogan art, leatherwork and lacquer artistry, Nirona is the craft village of Gujarat’s Kutch, where culture and community come together to form a homogenous whole

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Creating art with pebbles

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Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, 35, a self-taught artist from Ganderbal district in Jammu and Kashmir, has been passionately pursuing his passion of creating art using pebbles for the past two decades. Though he does not hold any formal education or training in arts, Ahmad has continued to follow his calling with dedication.

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Kholey Dai: It takes a village to host this festival

Folk music, local cuisine, scenic Himalayan setting. The upcoming Kholey Dai festival in a Kalimpong village has a lot of attractions for travellers, but at its heart lies the story of a community’s unity and resilience.

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Anusha’s full toss from Andhra village to Team India

21-year-old B Anusha, who hails from a small village in Andhra Pradesh, has etched her name in cricket's glory. She has moved from farm to fame, defying the odds and earning a spot in Team India.