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
Novel elephant alarm: Bengal villagers turn to the bottle
Bengal farmers create an innovative method to save their paddy crops and prevent conflict between humans and rampaging elephants in a West Bengal village in the Jalpaiguri district.
The girl over the moon
When a five-year-old Akankshya landed in a home for deserted children and orphans, she had no idea that one day she would be on her way to land on the moon.
Bhapa pitha: The Bengali rural delicacy for winter mornings
The soft, sweet and savoury bhapa pitha is a favourite breakfast item for West Bengali villagers -- especially on the cold mornings – but the delicacy is losing steam because of rising material costs.
Hockey popularity prompts Odisha children to wield sticks
Children of Khambesi in remote Rayagada district throng to the playing arena, underscoring the ever-increasing love for the game in India’s hockey cradle.
Meet 82-year-old Wani, who runs Kashmir’s last traditional oil mill
Every village in Kashmir once had ox-driven oil presses made of wood and stone until machine extraction came. But one man clings on. Ghulam Mohammad Wani’s mill is the last of its kind in Kashmir.
Photo essay: Sowing seeds of festivity in Manipur
The Tangkhul tribe in Manipur sows seeds – with so much fun and fanfare – it’s an annual festival. The Luira Phanit festival is celebrated a little differently in each village. Here’s a look at Nungbi Khullen’s celebration.
Sohrai: A tribal festival celebrating cattles and nature
Sohrai is a harvest festival celebrated on Amavasya (new moon) by tribal people in Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal. It coincides with the festival of Govardhan Puja and involves singing, dancing and delicious food.
Kangri, the secret to Kashmiri warmth, and the risk around it
Kashmiri villagers keep the tradition of the kangri alive – the wicker enclosed personal fire pot – despite the health risks and many urbanites turning to cheap electric heaters to keep them warm in winter.
Kashmiri harissa: From posh grub to comfort food
Once a winter comfort food afforded only by the rich in downtown Srinagar, the minced-meat dish of harissa is now warming the hearts of people living in far-flung and high-altitude villages, thanks to online orders and delivery.