Voices of Rural India

A curated platform for rural storytellers

Voices of Rural India
  • Home
  • About
    • The Initiative
    • The Team
    • Our Partners
    • Our Volunteers
  • Stories
    • States
      • Gujarat
      • Himachal Pradesh
      • Kerala
      • Ladakh
      • Maharashtra
      • Meghalaya
      • Uttarakhand
    • Languages
      • Hindi
        • Written (Hindi)
        • Audio (Hindi)
      • Dangi
      • Gujarati
      • Marathi
      • Malayalam
  • Get involved
    • Partner
    • Volunteer
    • Contribute
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Home
  • About
    • The Initiative
    • The Team
    • Our Partners
    • Our Volunteers
  • Stories
    • States
      • Gujarat
      • Himachal Pradesh
      • Kerala
      • Ladakh
      • Maharashtra
      • Meghalaya
      • Uttarakhand
    • Languages
      • Hindi
        • Written (Hindi)
        • Audio (Hindi)
      • Dangi
      • Gujarati
      • Marathi
      • Malayalam
  • Get involved
    • Partner
    • Volunteer
    • Contribute
  • Contact
  • Contribute

  • The Abode of Snakes

    October 15, 2020 /

    A guide from the Dang tribe of Baradpani village in Gujarat shares how a snake tried to save his life... and why he feels responsible for protecting it

    Go to story
    Bhaskar Narayan Dalvi
  voices of rural india logo  

Voices of Rural India is a not-for-profit initiative that aims to revolutionize storytelling. For perhaps the first time, we bring you curated stories of rural India… in rural voices.

We hope to turn the unprecedented Covid-19 crisis into an opportunity to upgrade digital skills and create alternate livelihoods among rural communities, while building a repository of knowledge and traditions that are slowly fading away.

Read more about us

Follow Us

Join the family!

Each time you read, comment and share a story on Voices of Rural India, it encourages someone far away to work on their craft.

Join 177 other subscribers

Explore stories from

Ladakh
Himachal Pradesh
Uttarakhand

INSTAGRAM

In the high mountains of Ladakh, a postman travels In the high mountains of Ladakh, a postman travels on foot through the dramatic Lungnak Valley to deliver mail. En route, he discovers letters of a different kind - petroglyphs or ancient stones carved with inscriptions! "My job as a postman gives me the freedom to roam about, connect with my community and explore my fascination for petroglyphs – ancient stones carved with inscriptions, dating as far back as the Bronze Age! We consider these stones sacred...Many petroglyphs tell a story...Some have been carved by travellers of yore, with different symbols, in different languages, depicting different religions", writes Tenzin Choejor. Choejor emphasises the urgent need to preserve these stones. Many have already been lost to negligence or ignorance. Some have been buried due to road construction. Some are being used for advertisements! Discover the stories behind these ancient stones in Chojeor's story "Letters from the Bronze Age". Read or watch video snippets through the link in our bio or on voicesofruralindia.org
Excited to announce a partnership with the fantast Excited to announce a partnership with the fantastic folks at @outlook_responsibletourism who will be republishing stories from Voices of Rural India 😊 The first feature is none other than Trilok Singh Rana's exquisite photo story documenting the lost art of wood-carving, or "Likhai", in Munsiari. Read here: https://www.responsibletourismindia.com/inspire-me/voices-of-rural-india-the-disappearing-craft-of-likhai/573 We're super happy that these stories will reach more readers across the country! #voicesofruralindia #storiesofindia #digitalstorytelling #digitalindia
*MEET THE STORYTELLER* Kanika loves teaching and w *MEET THE STORYTELLER* Kanika loves teaching and wants to be a teacher in a school someday. She presently studies Arts at Banjar college with Hindi as the main subject. Trekking and reading stories about culture are some of her favourite things. In her first story for Voices of Rural India, Kanika throws light on a beloved village festival called 'Haran' where children dress up in a deer costume and go dancing from house to house!💚 "Two kids wear the costume – the kid in the front stands, while the one behind stoops... Haran is taken out only during the night, never during the day... I am afraid of the dark, so when I used to participate in the celebration, the elders would make sure I was positioned in the middle of the group. One night during Haran, while walking through the fields, I fell down as I was inside the deer costume. The kid standing in front of me fell down with me too! All the other kids burst into laughter. We quickly got up and started dancing in a funny way to make the others laugh even more. It was quite a sight!", muses Kanika. Read this delightful story yet? 😁 Show Kanika some love! Head on over to our bio link or voicesofruralindia.org to read, share, comment!
*NEW STORY* Kanika Mehta shares how Himachali chil *NEW STORY* Kanika Mehta shares how Himachali children celebrate “Haran” – featuring deer, music, and long walks in the dark during the famous Kullu Dussehra festival. It's time for Haran when the mountains echo with children singing to the beat of drums - "Come out of your homes! There's a deer dancing at your door!" Head on over to voicesofruralindia.org or click our bio link to read Kanika's beautiful story 😊 Supported by: @himalayanecotourism
Faraway in Tirthan Valley, the community in Bihar Faraway in Tirthan Valley, the community in Bihar village celebrates local festivals almost every month. However, the month of Magh Mahina is extra special. As snowfall envelops the mountains, seemingly sleepy villages come to life with festivities and food!⁣ ⁣ Soniya Thakur gives us glimpses into the Magh Mahina festival and its culinary traditions through her story, “In the Cold Himalayan Winter, a Celebration to warm the Heart”. ⁣The perfect read to snuggle up with on a winter afternoon ☕ ⁣ Soniya’s story also happens to be the first one we published on Voices of Rural India. Seems like ages ago! 😳💚 Read on voicesofruralindia.org or through our bio link.
*MEET THE STORYTELLER* Mahadu is a teacher, a mast *MEET THE STORYTELLER* Mahadu is a teacher, a master trainer, and a senior guide-cum-facilitator in Purushwadi village. He's also the go-to person for sustainable community projects such as watersheds adapted to climate change and local needs. He takes a keen interest in reading, writing, and documenting the old way of life in Purushwadi. ⁣ ⁣ In his third story for Voices of Rural India, @mahadu.kondar.23 describes his community's unwavering faith in Jakhubai - the village deity and enduring symbol of femininity. There are no Shiv, Hanuman, Krishna, or Vitthal temples in Purushwadi, but the presence of Jakhubai has always been celebrated over nine days of Navratri. ⁣ ⁣ Have you read his amazing story? Head on over to the link in our bio or on voicesofruralindia.org in case you still haven't 😊
*NEW STORY* Over a hundred years ago, a strange il *NEW STORY* Over a hundred years ago, a strange illness hit Maharashtra’s Purushwadi village. But the village found strength in its local deity and continues to lean on her to this day. ⁣"When news of the Coronavirus pandemic reached Purushwadi, many people felt that only the name Corona is new, but the symptoms of this disease are old. They followed the guidelines, but also kept faith in Jakhubai in order to keep her protection", writes Mahadu Chindhu Kondar, a teacher who grew up here. @mahadu.kondar.23 A beautiful narrative on exploring (and keeping) faith, especially in times that have tested all of us. Read Mahadu's story in Marathi/English through the link in our bio or on voicesofruraindia.org 😊 Supported by @grassroutes
The people of Sarmoli village in Uttarakhand are c The people of Sarmoli village in Uttarakhand are celebrating the Ghughuti Festival⁣ today 💚 ⁣ Ever pictured yourself at a feast where the guests of honour are black crows? While it⁣ sounds like a chapter from a novel, you can experience this first-hand in the⁣ mountains of Uttarakhand.⁣ ⁣ Kamla Pandey from Sarmoli describes the history and traditions of this festival in her story “A Mountain Festival to thank the Crows". ⁣ Every January, the serene Sarmoli village prepares a feast for the black crows of Kumaon!⁣ As part of the Ghughuti festival, people cook the first dishes of the day in the crows’ honour.⁣ Ghughuti is a local delicacy made by kneading wheat flour with jaggery and ghee in milk,⁣ and then deep-frying them in oil.⁣ ⁣ Find out more through Kamla's lovely story. Read in English or Hindi through the link in our bio, or on www.voicesofruralindia.org
Join us on Instagram

@voicesofruralindia

In the high mountains of Ladakh, a postman travels In the high mountains of Ladakh, a postman travels on foot through the dramatic Lungnak Valley to deliver mail. En route, he discovers letters of a different kind - petroglyphs or ancient stones carved with inscriptions! "My job as a postman gives me the freedom to roam about, connect with my community and explore my fascination for petroglyphs – ancient stones carved with inscriptions, dating as far back as the Bronze Age! We consider these stones sacred...Many petroglyphs tell a story...Some have been carved by travellers of yore, with different symbols, in different languages, depicting different religions", writes Tenzin Choejor. Choejor emphasises the urgent need to preserve these stones. Many have already been lost to negligence or ignorance. Some have been buried due to road construction. Some are being used for advertisements! Discover the stories behind these ancient stones in Chojeor's story "Letters from the Bronze Age". Read or watch video snippets through the link in our bio or on voicesofruralindia.org
Excited to announce a partnership with the fantast Excited to announce a partnership with the fantastic folks at @outlook_responsibletourism who will be republishing stories from Voices of Rural India 😊 The first feature is none other than Trilok Singh Rana's exquisite photo story documenting the lost art of wood-carving, or "Likhai", in Munsiari. Read here: https://www.responsibletourismindia.com/inspire-me/voices-of-rural-india-the-disappearing-craft-of-likhai/573 We're super happy that these stories will reach more readers across the country! #voicesofruralindia #storiesofindia #digitalstorytelling #digitalindia
*MEET THE STORYTELLER* Kanika loves teaching and w *MEET THE STORYTELLER* Kanika loves teaching and wants to be a teacher in a school someday. She presently studies Arts at Banjar college with Hindi as the main subject. Trekking and reading stories about culture are some of her favourite things. In her first story for Voices of Rural India, Kanika throws light on a beloved village festival called 'Haran' where children dress up in a deer costume and go dancing from house to house!💚 "Two kids wear the costume – the kid in the front stands, while the one behind stoops... Haran is taken out only during the night, never during the day... I am afraid of the dark, so when I used to participate in the celebration, the elders would make sure I was positioned in the middle of the group. One night during Haran, while walking through the fields, I fell down as I was inside the deer costume. The kid standing in front of me fell down with me too! All the other kids burst into laughter. We quickly got up and started dancing in a funny way to make the others laugh even more. It was quite a sight!", muses Kanika. Read this delightful story yet? 😁 Show Kanika some love! Head on over to our bio link or voicesofruralindia.org to read, share, comment!
*NEW STORY* Kanika Mehta shares how Himachali chil *NEW STORY* Kanika Mehta shares how Himachali children celebrate “Haran” – featuring deer, music, and long walks in the dark during the famous Kullu Dussehra festival. It's time for Haran when the mountains echo with children singing to the beat of drums - "Come out of your homes! There's a deer dancing at your door!" Head on over to voicesofruralindia.org or click our bio link to read Kanika's beautiful story 😊 Supported by: @himalayanecotourism
Faraway in Tirthan Valley, the community in Bihar Faraway in Tirthan Valley, the community in Bihar village celebrates local festivals almost every month. However, the month of Magh Mahina is extra special. As snowfall envelops the mountains, seemingly sleepy villages come to life with festivities and food!⁣ ⁣ Soniya Thakur gives us glimpses into the Magh Mahina festival and its culinary traditions through her story, “In the Cold Himalayan Winter, a Celebration to warm the Heart”. ⁣The perfect read to snuggle up with on a winter afternoon ☕ ⁣ Soniya’s story also happens to be the first one we published on Voices of Rural India. Seems like ages ago! 😳💚 Read on voicesofruralindia.org or through our bio link.
*MEET THE STORYTELLER* Mahadu is a teacher, a mast *MEET THE STORYTELLER* Mahadu is a teacher, a master trainer, and a senior guide-cum-facilitator in Purushwadi village. He's also the go-to person for sustainable community projects such as watersheds adapted to climate change and local needs. He takes a keen interest in reading, writing, and documenting the old way of life in Purushwadi. ⁣ ⁣ In his third story for Voices of Rural India, @mahadu.kondar.23 describes his community's unwavering faith in Jakhubai - the village deity and enduring symbol of femininity. There are no Shiv, Hanuman, Krishna, or Vitthal temples in Purushwadi, but the presence of Jakhubai has always been celebrated over nine days of Navratri. ⁣ ⁣ Have you read his amazing story? Head on over to the link in our bio or on voicesofruralindia.org in case you still haven't 😊
*NEW STORY* Over a hundred years ago, a strange il *NEW STORY* Over a hundred years ago, a strange illness hit Maharashtra’s Purushwadi village. But the village found strength in its local deity and continues to lean on her to this day. ⁣"When news of the Coronavirus pandemic reached Purushwadi, many people felt that only the name Corona is new, but the symptoms of this disease are old. They followed the guidelines, but also kept faith in Jakhubai in order to keep her protection", writes Mahadu Chindhu Kondar, a teacher who grew up here. @mahadu.kondar.23 A beautiful narrative on exploring (and keeping) faith, especially in times that have tested all of us. Read Mahadu's story in Marathi/English through the link in our bio or on voicesofruraindia.org 😊 Supported by @grassroutes
The people of Sarmoli village in Uttarakhand are c The people of Sarmoli village in Uttarakhand are celebrating the Ghughuti Festival⁣ today 💚 ⁣ Ever pictured yourself at a feast where the guests of honour are black crows? While it⁣ sounds like a chapter from a novel, you can experience this first-hand in the⁣ mountains of Uttarakhand.⁣ ⁣ Kamla Pandey from Sarmoli describes the history and traditions of this festival in her story “A Mountain Festival to thank the Crows". ⁣ Every January, the serene Sarmoli village prepares a feast for the black crows of Kumaon!⁣ As part of the Ghughuti festival, people cook the first dishes of the day in the crows’ honour.⁣ Ghughuti is a local delicacy made by kneading wheat flour with jaggery and ghee in milk,⁣ and then deep-frying them in oil.⁣ ⁣ Find out more through Kamla's lovely story. Read in English or Hindi through the link in our bio, or on www.voicesofruralindia.org
Join us on Instagram

Join the family!

Each time you read, comment and share a story on Voices of Rural India, it encourages someone far away to work on their craft.

Join 177 other subscribers

Join our community

Join our Facebook community

Support us

Contribute to support our storytellers
Cover image: Abhijit Kar Gupta with permission. © All content on this site is copyrighted and cannot be used without explicit permission.