A Phulkari Fan from the Olden Days
Here’s another cultural remnant of the olden days in Punjab – A ceiling fan decorated with Phulkari work: The rope is used to swing the fan and is held by … Continue reading
Back into the Home & Hearth of the Himalayan Aryan People
October 2016 The kitchen is a very intimate space. It is where many facets of my habits, my work style, my skills, my character, my thinking are revealed. And so, … Continue reading
Living in the Lap of the Himalayas
Notes from a visit in 2016. This village is roughly 200 km away from the nearest airport. The Indus has created a gorge for itself over the centuries with two … Continue reading
Lives lived differently
Goa. 2016. And people still fish for their dinner. As these men and I are now neighbours, it is time I adopt some of their ways. 1. Eat what you … Continue reading
Rich & Poor
The Barber comes home…. Do we in the big city have this luxury? A little village with its own little wheels of economic output, buying and selling services that are … Continue reading
Postcards from Rajasthan
Postcards (or rather the e-version – Whatsapp Images) from Rajasthan. Sent by the remarkable Narayan Gadhvi, a young man who lives in the desert city of Jaisalmer and was pivotal … Continue reading
Vanished Without a Trace – A Clan of 84 Villages
TIME: Around 13th century. PLACE: Rajasthan PARADIGM: Extremely Caste Conscious Social Hierarchy STORY Kuldhara is village outside Jaisalmer. It was the home of Paliwal Brahmins. Every region, has its unstated … Continue reading
Living with Art – A Home in rural Rajasthan
On a highway outside Jaisalmer, driving at 80kmph, I spot an artistically decorated walled enclave. The driver is instructed to stop. He is first confused about my request to visit … Continue reading
Rural India Beckons!
Wanderlust strikes again! The unparalleled beauty of rural India is beginning to call out to me again…. The simplicity, the warmth, the genuineness, people living as one with the earth, … Continue reading
Goa Diaries
The Honey Trappers Goan Fisherman’s tale – traditional wisdom, traditional fishing Church of St. Francis Xavier of Assisi, Old Goa Goan Portugese Houses – Art in Architecture Narakasura Festival Goan Folk Art – … Continue reading
Living with a Dard Family
Sitting in a train in the city or a plane I often see people whose faces or expressions or language intrigue me. And I wonder what their lives must be … Continue reading
Animals in our Lives
A few photos from my older travel albums: View more images in full size in the Cultural Image Library on WOVENSOULS.COM jm
A walk through a traditional Ryukyu Village, Okinawa, Japan
Ryukyu Kingdom – Wikipedia says it existed between the 15th & 19th century. A walk through a village in Okinawa that has been reconstructed by transporting century old houses from … Continue reading
Goan Fisherman’s tale – traditional wisdom, traditional fishing
While one half of the world chases efficiency and big money, Goa continues to chase the perfect life. Afternoon siestas are still not traded for earnings. I have been turned … Continue reading
Wall Art of Rural Rajasthan
Dedicated to those mistaken souls for whom ‘rural’ implies ‘poor’ or ‘undeveloped’ or ‘in-need-of-upliftment’. May the following pictures give them reason to modify their beliefs. Following are pictures of a … Continue reading
Pink Balloons – the Gay Village of Montreal
Every individual is a combination of his preferences – of food, of interests, of music, of art, of worship, of fashion, of style, of profession and other aspects Sexuality is … Continue reading
A walk through a Rabari tribal Village
Rabari people are gypsies having their deep ancestry origins in Mount Kailash. They migrated to the Kutch via Afghanistan & Kashmir. Just a video taken as I walk about a … Continue reading
A Rabari Gypsy Tribal Wedding Ritual
‘Luck by Chaanus’* was on our side Mr. V.bhai – my self appointed guide for the day – declared observing that we had just witnessed two pre-wedding rituals an hour … Continue reading
The Blacksmith Gadaliya Tribe of Rajasthan & Gujarat
One of the many tribes I met in Rajasthan – the Gadaliyas – the Blacksmiths. I have posted some images and an informed article by another blogger on nomadic tribe … Continue reading
Mewar Diaries
Rajasthan needs no introduction. Colors flood my senses from the moment I drive into the city of Udaipur from the airport late in the evening. After stopping to pick up … 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
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
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
Travelling between two eras – an encounter with Pushpa the maid servant
Pushpa used to work for the previous owners of our portugese villa before the family dissipated in numbers and before the house fell to ruin As per Goa laws, she … Continue reading
Viva San Jao
24th June 2011 A second visit to the wonderful non-touristy festival in Goa! For the local people and by the local people. Vibrant colors, Vibrant music, Vibrant boat decor and … Continue reading
A journey on a state transport bus in Satara district, Maharashtra
That India is a land of diversity is an often repeated cliche. The spectrum found on any parameter – wealth, lifestyle, mentality, cultural beliefs to name a few – covers … Continue reading
A Cup of Tea with Nomads of Kutch
This trip in early 2006 marked the start of my solo travelling life. A novice solo traveller a bit nervous, but as usual serendipity helped me along….. Armed with terrible … Continue reading
Goan Village House
Of the three top attractions of Goa, two are secrets. Beaches are the only commonly known feature …but the quaint villages and the forests remain ignored by most. The continuous … Continue reading
