Village Vibe
And with fury flows the Teesta
The River Teesta bears the brunt of ill-planned development with dams and tunnels in the disaster-prone area, leading to many rafting and car accidents.
Saving Khovar and Sohrai arts of “painted villages”
Tribal murals that bear a remarkable resemblance to prehistoric cave paintings were fading away until a passionate art conservation couple revived it, helping the artists exhibit in international galleries.
Shades of motherhood from rural India
For Mother’s Day 2022, Village Square pays tribute to all mothers, who embody unconditional love, compassion, care giving and labor. Their list of tasks is endless and roles undefined. They wear different hats at different times of the day. Sometimes a teacher, other times a sibling, a best friend and a confidant. For this Mother’s Day we are featuring photographs which capture the many, beautiful shades of motherhood from across rural India.
May – Photo of the Month
Our growing community of photographers is continuing to leave our jaws dropped with their stills. What’s particularly heartening is that we are receiving entries from every corner of India. Here are some of the fascinating photos from our Photo of the Month (May 2022) series.
How rural India toils – a glimpse
Rural India does not work 9-5. Villagers do not sit in cubicles tied to their gadgets. For this year’s May Day, otherwise known as Labour Day or International Workers’ Day , we give you a glimpse into how the working class in rural India toils. Thanks to our growing community of photographers across India, we bring you the colorful shades of labour on and off the field.
Kalbeliya beadwork hanging by a thread
Most famous for their ‘snake charmer’ dance, the Kalbeliya tribes have another precious legacy they are desperate to preserve and earn a livelihood from - the unique bead jewellery that is part of their costume.
India’s Earth Day heroes
From the farmers who turn barren land into lush forests to those who breed new, sustainable varieties of fruits (with fewer seeds to boot!) - India’s villages are bursting with eco-warriors who are investing in our planet. Join us as we salute them on Earth Day 2022.
Using puppet power to spread messages
Thol paavai koothu, the long but fading tradition of leather puppetry in Tamil Nadu, is reinventing itself by bringing awareness about the declining number of small animals and the importance of conservation.
April – Photo of the Month
We remain stunned by the quality and vitality our readers and supporters have when it comes to capturing rural India on camera. Have a look at the stunning snaps sent to us for our Photo of the Month series.
Is the art of Tibetans in India vanishing?
As children of Tibetan refugees in India seek greener pastures abroad, the once-flourishing Tibetan arts and crafts industry is suffering as there are fewer people interested in their religious handicrafts.
Leech therapy – alive and sucking in Kashmir
Despite being long abandoned as a medical cure by modern science, many people in the Kashmir Valley still let leeches suck their blood in hopes of curing everything from swollen joints and headaches to frostbite and acne.
Ancient Mayurbhanj Chhau dance steps up revival
The dramatic 19th century martial arts Mayurbhanj Chhau dance is stepping up its revival thanks to renewed patronage of an erstwhile royal family and government support.
Common kitchens – what’s cooking in Kerala?
Work and other commitments vying for time, one cannot spare time to cook. What started out of necessity for two couples is making "common kitchens' spring up across Kerala.
Rural theatre acts out vaccine hesitancy
Setting the stage to bust myths around vaccine hesitancy, tribal dance and theatre productions manage to convert the unvaccinated in Rajasthan, proving the power of tailor-made messaging.
Azolla “water weed” becomes cattle superfood
With the cost of maintaining livestock a constant burden for most poor farmers, azolla goes from being a pesky water weed to a sustainable and cost-effective superfood for cattle.
Tikuli art – Born from bindis
Bright, elaborately designed bindis that 17th century women wore gave birth to the tikuli style of painting, which was hugely popular before fading into obscurity. Today the art form is seeing a revival, despite pandemic-induced setbacks.
Young twitcher becomes desert’s star birding guide
With a passion for birds, birding guide Musa Khan hopes his work will inspire other twitchers to become aware of rising bird deaths due to power transmission lines in the Thar desert.
Hot iron branding of babies fizzles out
In a unique approach, healthcare workers in rural Odisha engaged traditional healers – who once branded newborn babies with a hot iron to try and cure illnesses – to curb this harmful practice.
Weavers keep Bastar’s pata saree tradition alive
Artisans are hopeful traditional handloom weaving will get a much-needed boost in Bastar, Chhattisgarh - home of the pata saree - as the government plans to start a weaving hub.
A young woman engineer spurs hope for pottery in Kashmir
Traditional potters struggling to survive are confident of better business again after a young woman who found hope through pottery is bringing it back into the limelight.