The Curious Mamma

During the planning of my Rajasthan adventure , I embarked on a Google quest for 'village stays in Rajasthan,' and there it was, gleaming at the top of the search results – 'Chhotaram Prajapat's Homestay.' The photos exuded rustic charm, beckoning me to explore further. I reached out to Mr. Chhotaram, and as he described the package options, his authenticity and warmth won me over. I eagerly booked a 2-night stay, and somewhere deep within, I sensed that I was about to embark on an exhilarating and unforgettable experience. We took a cab for our trip to Salawas village, located 20 km before Jodhpur, where our homestay awaited. We set off around 7:30 AM, and the journey lasted approximately 6 hours, encompassing breakfast and lunch breaks, as well as our brief visit to the renowned Ranakpur Temple. The ride amounted to 4000 rupees. The poha and tea we had at the temple's canteen were enjoyable. However, the temple's unwelcoming ambiance, extensive list of dev...

While my trip to Uttarakhand was spurred by unconventional reasons , my exploration of Rajasthan held a more traditional charm. It was the mystical and solitary desert, along with the rich cultural mosaic, that beckoned me. The allure of the desert and its culture had already captured my imagination through books and iconic films such as "Lekin," "I am Kalam," "Dhanak," "Paheli," and others. Beyond these influences, a profound motivation pulsed within me, much like the rhythmic beats of my beloved Indian classical music. The tales of legendary Rajasthani musicians, the enigmatic charm of their lifestyles, and the timeless melodies they crafted had sparked an indescribable yearning. This longing guided me to the heartland of this musical tradition, or at least to a place that softly echoed its essence, in my pursuit of forging a profound connection with my art. Truly, this journey fully satisfied that yearning. Rajasthan is a veritable haven of cu...

Namaskara everyone! The curious Aai (आई), mama as they call in English and Thayee (ತಾಯಿ) in Kannada, is back with a story about a different experience that she had recently! This time it's not about a place but a traditional folk art from the coastal part of Karnataka, the Yakshagana (ಯಕ್ಷಗಾನ/यक्षगान). Recently I watched a Yakshagana performance as a part of women's day celebration program organized by Swakruta and Maharashtra Mandal Bangalore . My visit to Janapadaloka , which hosts compelling statues of various folk forms of Karnataka, introduced me to the same, but I had never witnessed a performance. Yakshagana statues at Janapadaloka Being accompanied by my five-year-old, I was a little doubtful about attending the 1.5 hour long show. But, as Mr. Phatak, Bhagawatar (the orchestrator of the act) started singing Naandi (नांदी/ನಾಂದಿ; an invocation of gods seeking successful completion of the act) in his orotund voice, accompanied by a dancer depicting Ganapati, we were deeply...