Village Vibe celebrates the art, culture and festivals of India’s village life. Urbanites aren’t the only ones who become social media stars, produce stunning art, enjoy food fads or follow fitness crazes. And as for festivals, there’s a totally different vibe in the villages.
Village Vibe
Karitchi, no longer a forgotten condiment of Garo cuisine
Entrepreneur Dharmen Momin from Meghalaya is reviving the traditional Garo practice of making karitchi, a local alkaline liquid that was once central to their cuisine but lost to cheap, store-bought sodium carbonate.
Ogla, the blushing buckwheat blossom
Buckwheat, aka ogla, is mostly known for its grain-like seeds used in cooking. But take a look at its flower! When ogla fields blossom in one of the few places it grows in India, the whole Sangla Valley in Himachal Pradesh blushes pink.
And, it’s a rap about Naga culture
With about 2.20 lakh followers and millions of views on YouTube, Moko Koza has well arrived on the Indian hip-hop scene. The Kohima-based rapper tells us how he is promoting Naga culture through his music.
All you need to know about Bihar’s Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja of Bihar is a profound celebration that unites people across socio-economic divides, honouring the Sun god through rituals that emphasise simplicity, purity and a deep connection to nature.
Countryside celebrations to attend this November
From Tokhu Emong in Nagaland and Thiksey Gustor in Leh to Kalai Thiru Vizhaa in Tamil Nadu and Pushkar camel fair in Rajasthan, here are five rural festivals all travel enthusiasts should pen into their calendars this month.
A rice beer brand that pays tribute to the seven sisters
For 7 United founder Keenan K Marak, the rice beer brand isn’t just a business venture but a cultural mission to showcase northeast India’s unique relationship with the indigenous drink.
Blind cricket’s unsung hero travels from Odisha village to America
Sukhram Majhi, a partially blind cricketer from Odisha, has risen from a life of hardship to international recognition as part of India’s blind cricket team, his passion taking him from doing menial jobs to playing in the US.
Meet the emperor of the king of fruits in Malihabad
Haji Kalimullah Khan, the 84-year-old “mango man” of Malihabad, has been growing new varieties of the fruit for over six decades. Among his claims to fame is a tree that bears over 300 different varieties of mangoes.
From waste to wonder – Odisha’s eco-friendly cow dung toys
At a time when plastic and rubber toys rule the market, artisans in Ganjam district are crafting them in the traditional way. From dolls to animal masks and vegetable shapes, the toys come in various forms and sizes.