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
Elderly puppeteers of Odisha keep kandhei nacha alive
Rabi Narayan Jena, Dukhabandhu Jena and Umakanta Jena are fighting to revive the ancient art of kandhei nacha (rod puppetry), despite modern entertainment threatening its existence in Odisha.
Nothing ‘aam’ about these mango varieties
Move over Safeda, Langda and Chausa – the more popular mango varieties of India. This Mango Day, we do a round-up of some lesser-known regional favourites for you to savour.
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.
Echoes of Portugal ring out in tiny Maharashtra village
Home to 250 Catholic families, the coastal village of Korlai in Maharashtra stands out for its preservation of a rare creole dialect called Kristi, a mix of Portuguese, Marathi and Konkani.
Bahabanga festival: A cultural identity of the Santhals
The Santhals’ practice of welcoming a new season through rituals, songs and dances during the Bahabanga festival showcases their culture, and demonstrates how their lives revolve around nature and agricultural seasons.
World’s highest hamlet – What it’s like to live at 4,500 metres
Komic village in Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh stands as a unique blend of tradition and adaptation, where modern challenges meet ancient ways of life, and where the serenity of the Himalayas shapes every aspect of existence.
Odisha man’s home museum boasts 3,200 rare coins and more
Meet Mitesh Ranjan Sahu, a 38-year-old government employee in Odisha, who is an avid collector of coins, currency notes, matchbox labels, postage stamps, and medals, earning him the nickname ‘Currency King’.
Add this waterfall-side Himachali dhaba to your Manali itinerary
You can enjoy Himachali delicacies like lingdi sabzi, sidu and kadhi at Sagar Thakur dhaba, which is run by a ‘Pahadi didi’ next to a natural waterfall far from the maddening crowd of Manali.
This rural sports academy is shaping champions in Punjab
Amol Academy, founded by Sant Gurmeet Singh in 2017 at Khosa village in Punjab’s Moga district, has transformed the lives of aspiring athletes by providing modern training facilities and promoting hard work through sports.