Culture

Across India’s hills, riverbanks and temple towns, winter brings a season of vibrant, culture-rich fairs. From Himalayan trade routes to Bengal’s craft-filled carnivals, these five offbeat melas offer a warm, intimate look at India’s living traditions.

For 100 years, one family has documented Bharatpur’s birds, people, festivals, and disappearing wildlife. Today, filmmaker Abhinandan Sharma is racing to digitise this priceless archive before the memories fade.

From Kolkata’s mask dancers to students in Jammu and volunteers in Thanjavur, communities across India marked World Heritage Week by turning streets, schools and temples into heritage spaces.

When Kerala filmmaker Sidharth Harikumar left Berlin film school, he never imagined his graduation project would reach Hollywood’s doors. His short film Vasu, a haunting reflection on guilt and mental health, is now a finalist at the 2025 Student Academy Awards.

In a repurposed cowshed in Goa’s Surla, a sisterhood of weavers is not just reviving the ancient Kunbi saree, but they are reclaiming its story, threading their own dreams of independence into every check and border.

When women from villages and cities reached Jaipur for Rajasthan’s first state Ghoomar Festival, no one expected the energy they would create together. The moment 6100 women stepped into the dance, the park shifted into colour, rhythm and a record now held by Asia Book Records.

From a Delhi runway to a Gujarat charkha, khadi links breathable comfort with craft and pride. Fair pricing, better design and clear traceability are moving handspun fabric into modern wardrobes while more value reaches spinner and weaver homes.

In the cold desert of Ladakh, the thab — a humble wood-fired hearth — is more than just a place to cook. It’s the heart of family, food, and tradition.

India has long celebrated its own versions of Halloween — through light, folklore, and spirit-filled nights. From Bengal’s Bhoot Chaturdashi to Kerala’s Theyyam, discover five Indian festivals that blend mystery, art, and community in ways both ancient and enchanting.

Across India, children sing, play, and pray with the arrival of monsoon rains. From Jhulelal Puja in Sindhi homes to Oonjal swings in Tamil Nadu, these age-old rituals weave joy with lessons on gratitude and water conservation.