Folk Dances of Rajasthan
No words. Just videos that I have taken on my phone camera at the Bagaur Haveli in Udaipur. 1. A folk musician plays a traditional instrument called the Raavanhatta : … Continue reading
The Man with 39 Wives
A remote village in Mizoram. Returning from Lunglei to Aizawl I took a detour via Sirchip in order to meet this man with a new idea of life. Communication with … Continue reading
The Chapchar Kut Harvest Festival of Mizoram
A glimpse of the Chapchar Kut Harvest festival held at Aizawl in March 2012. The Chapchar Kut is the Harvest festival of Mizoram and celebrated across the hills in March … Continue reading
The Holi Festival – Present & Past
Jari Mari Mata Temple on S.V. Road, Bandra. The venue for the Holi bonfire on the night of the Spring Full Moon. Past Holi bonfires at this location are a … Continue reading
Mizoram Diaries
Mizoram. A landscape of blue mountains. Rising above white clouds and mist. Green. Pristine. Located in the North East of India. With a population of 10,00,000. Spread over half a … Continue reading
Intense Spirituality – the Thaipusam Festival
They say spirituality awakens at a particular moment – and that moment is necessarily different for each person. I do not think I have reached my moment yet. But I … Continue reading
Arunachal Pradesh Diaries
Nested in the Himalayan foothills, almost untouched by my world that is desperately seeking answers to its energy crisis, its financial crisis fuelled by ‘more & more’ & ‘growth’, and … Continue reading
Fierce Nocte Headhunters
Portrait-collage of the Nocte Tribe, Khonsa, Arunachal Pradesh, a friendly happy yet fierce tribe with headhunting ancestry. Hi res images available on http://www.jainamishra.com My other related articles Headhunting Tropies Back … Continue reading
The Gaanv Boodhas or Village Headmen of Arunachal Pradesh
Am stating the obvious – that every journey results in not only a fresh view of old things, but also views of things never seen before by the beholder. Having … Continue reading
Glimpses of a contented People – the Arunachalis
Images of interesting elements of Arunachali lifestyle have been put together as a general kaleidoscope. For separate articles on the specific topics, click on the links below: Hunter-Gatherer-Weavers  Innovative housing … Continue reading
A chance encounter with a Shaman Priest during a sacrifice ritual
Rural Arunachal Pradesh, Dec 2011 This was an encounter that took me by surprise and swept me off my feet! When I think back, it is difficult to imagine the … Continue reading
The Arunachali – the Hunter-Gatherer-Weaver
Tiny hamlets dot the Himalayan foothills of Arunachal Pradesh. Some lie along the winding roads while a large number are accessible only by foot paths taking as long as 3-5 … Continue reading
Tribal Signatures – Face Tattoos of the Apatani tribe
The lifestyle of Apatani hilltribe of Arunachal Pradesh fascinates a cultural traveller on several aspects. But the one that hit me with the greatest intensity are the 2 tribal signatures … Continue reading
Third World Country Happiness
My 20 year old son asked a question to which I have no answer. We’d spent 2 hours neck deep in the Arabian Sea, wave-bashing at Candolim Beach and eaten … Continue reading
Arunachal Hilltribe Lifestyle 2 : Innovative housing
Arunachal Pradesh landscapes comprise the foothills of the Himalayas and is inhabited mainly by tribes.The hills are dotted with tribal villages all across its 85000 sq km expanse. Hills and … Continue reading
Head Hunting Trophies
The British had banned head hunting during the days of the Raj and ordered that all trophies – such as skulls of enemy tribes – be destroyed. Most tribes complied. … Continue reading
Ram Leela at Dassera in Mumbai
The Ramayan is a well known epic about the triumph of good over evil. But the Ram Leela – the enactment of the Ramayana is a lesser known event. In … Continue reading
Ladakh Diaries
“LADAKH – THE HERMIT KINGDOM” PROVIDES AN INTRODUCTION TO LADAKH AND IS A PREFACE TO A SERIES OF SUBJECT SPECIFIC ARTICLES ON LADAKH. In the olden days, in the Hindu … Continue reading
“An Indian Discovers India” – Photo Art Prints Exhibition
For an Indian born and raised in urban India, discovering the diverse spectrum of cultures in the extreme geographical ends has been a journey filled with revelations about India’s identity. … Continue reading
Mountain Adventures 18000ft above sea level – a landslide at the Khardungla Pass!
This was, without a doubt, the most difficult journey I have ever made. I have travelled to Everest Base camp, have travelled squeezed into the boot of a car on … Continue reading
Bactrian Camels of the Central Asian Silk Route – Ladakh
Diskit village, Nubra valley. Ladakh. Wedged between two ranges of the Himalayas. Sand dunes. River beds. Mountains with badly scratched faces. Mountains with a topology that mesmerised. Rock formations that … Continue reading
