GIRDIDH, India: Priya Kumari is in the 8th grade at UMS Arkhango in Giridih district in the central Indian state of Jharkhand. Priya is one of the million girls worldwide who menstruate every month. She had no idea what was happening when she reached her menarche. She rushed to her school’s nodal teacher, who counselled and handed her a pad. It came as a surprise to her when she returned home and told her mother about it. “I told my mother that I have used a pad, to… Read More
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Water Wows to Woes
Sometimes what creates history sinks into oblivion or gets overshadowed by the layers of civilizations. Water is one such ‘character’ that has been the common tandem for the global history encompassing all the dynasties. Imagine, when administration was under a single ruler, how was water managed in a semi arid zone, which had low rainfall, dry winter, soaring mercury for most of its months? And that’s how water became sacred when wisdom bolstered the self-sufficient models of water security. The robust trio of Amer, Nahargarh and Jaigarh Forts are not just laudable… Read More
Ashwagandha is spreading happiness amongst farmers!
Dinesh Kumar Dhaakad , son of Shri Amar Lal Dhaakad from Buranhedi village of Khairabad Panchayat Samiti in Kota, owns 9 hectares of land. His family was engaged in conventional farming of mustard, soybean and wheat. However the harvest and income from conventional farming was not turning out to be a profitable deal. Year by year due to some or the other reason such as pest attack, floods or drought, the yield was minimizing. This became an alarming topic for him that if the graph of productivity kept on descending… Read More
Human story of Jaipur Rugs
6 states, 600 villages, 40,000 artisans, distribution to over 40 countries and more than 100 international feature stories, sums up one vision that believes in the harmony of sustainable growth. More than just a business of rugs and carpets, it is the founder, N K Chaudhary’s mission to cultivate the untapped and untamed potential of rural human resources to nurture the saplings of handicrafts. A Commerce graduate, who would have ended up at his father’s boot shop in Churu district of Rajasthan, or as a bank officer; determined to take… Read More
Why go Organic?
Health and environment consciousness is rapidly rising these days. People are getting sensitized to conserve ecology and prevent global warming from deteriorating the planet. The wave of eco – friendly and organic products including textiles, started from the western nations. Eventually the demand of organic cotton has accelerated around the globe because of the rise in demand from enlightened consumers who prefer intelligent and sensible choice for brands and retailers to manufacture quality fabrics. India ranks to be the second largest global textile manufacturer and second largest producer of natural… Read More
The Handloom Talk
WARP OF TIME, WEFT OF HERITAGE When I say Sari; it’s a subject I’m referring to! If ever a word could weigh with mythology, history, heritage, geography and economics, it is ‘Sari’. This 5.5 metres fabric narrates a legacy of a civilization in the most elegant and beautiful way possible. Handloom is the soul of this ageless tradition which showcases India’s heritage textile; from the first lady PM of independent India to colossal nuptial affairs, handloom sari has always perched on high standards of dressing thereby personifying grace and poise… Read More
The Deserted Dam- Ramgarh
The 10th megacity of India, where heritage brims from every nook and corner; ironically owes an apology to heritage. 19 years, since the last time Ramgarh Dam felt its identity when 33 feet 9 inches of water level was recorded. 37 years, since the water level in the lake rose to its highest capacity of 64 feet 5 inches. 36 years ago, Ramgarh lake earned the historical crest by hosting the rowing competitions of mega sports event, Asian Games of 1982. It was the same year when Government of India,… Read More
Culinary Trails from the first planned city of India
Cooking is a craft, I like to think, and a good cook is a craftsman — not an artist. There’s nothing wrong with that: the great cathedrals of Europe were built by craftsmen — though not designed by them. Practicing your craft in expert fashion is noble, honorable and satisfying. ~Anthony Bourdain Rajasthan is a vibrant cocktail of heritage and culture. Soaring temperature tales and aridity results in paucity of vegetations here. This is what gave birth to the much-celebrated cuisine of Rajasthan. Jaipur, the capital… Read More
From the coriander bowl of India
Often referred as stone city or coriander city, Ramganj Mandi is a city in Kota district of Rajasthan. It is Asia’s largest market for coriander trading where 6500 tons of coriander seeds have been noted to arrive on a single day during the season. The spice giant, MDH buys the coriander seeds from the same place. This aromatic herb is cultivated on more than 2 lac hectare land and harvests more than 2 lac metric tonne of herb that equals to 90% of coriander cultivated in the state. Being one… Read More
Mysteries of the most haunted fort of India
Ruins have their own language to narrate mysterious stories. Built in 1573, an abandoned city and its historical ruins resting 83 kms north east of Jaipur, echoes a similar story. Silent disappearances, spooky vibes, deserted vicinity and dilapidated bazaars conjure the eeriness that envelops the Bhangarh Fort and its territory. Sandwiched between Sariska border in Alwar and Jaipur, Bhangarh is a site declared legally haunted by Government of India. Entry before sunrise and after sunset is strictly forbidden into the Fort and a signboard by Archaeological Survey of India warns… Read More