Category Archives: small town life

The Banyan Tree

Posted on June 6, 2020 by Archana

Just outside my native home in Ambajogai, there is an old banyan tree. It is as old as time, it feels, because everyone simply refers to it as “vadacha zhaad”, or “the banyan tree”. There is no need to describe … Continue reading →

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The homegrown mango

Posted on May 18, 2019 by Archana

“So-and-so kaku sent you some mangoes from her family farm in Kaij,” my mum announced, handing over a handful to me. I beamed in delight. I looked down lovingly at the three or four golden orbs cradled in my arms. … Continue reading →

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The White Topi

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Archana

The bicycle rode by, a middle-aged man astride. Or maybe he was slightly older than middle-aged. I couldn’t tell you because I was more focused on the white topi (cap) atop his head. Everything about him was as ordinary as … Continue reading →

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Marathwada Diaries: Where Everyone Knows Your Name

Posted on November 11, 2018 by Archana

You know that feeling when you walk down the street and people call you by your name? As a city-dweller, I’m not used to it. I consider myself lucky that my neighbourhood grocer and cornershop proprietor recognize me enough to … Continue reading →

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Marathwada Diaries: When Goddesses Come Home

Posted on September 16, 2018 by Archana

Hindu mythic folklore is rich and colourful, creating whole worlds in which the divine interacts with the human. This time of year is particularly full of this interplay, merging the two and creating an elevated sense of companionship and closeness … Continue reading →

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Marathwada Diaries – Summer Rituals

Posted on April 8, 2018 by Archana

All seasons have their own culture, and summers are no different. Falling roughly from April to June, Indian summers are defined by piles of luscious golden mangoes everywhere, lazy school holidays that promise to stretch for a long time, and … Continue reading →

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Aurangabad’s charms

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Archana

Aurangabad is a dusty little town, sitting in the heart of Maharashtra and serving as the gateway to the deeply historic Ajanta and Ellora caves. For most visitors, this is the main purpose of Aurangabad, as the hub spot to … Continue reading →

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When a song made me a kid again

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Archana

This morning, I was exploring Indian classical music on YouTube, and stumbled on Bhimsen Joshi’s Majhe maher pandhari. It’s one of his famous devotional songs, though I’m not personally familiar with it. As I listened to the circular rhythm of … Continue reading →

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Humble spinach curry

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Archana

I tore a piece of chapati and dipped it into my bowl of spinach curry. The curry was unassuming, nothing to look at. Not like those thick, rich punjabi gravies that lustily titillate one’s senses and cause desires to ooze … Continue reading →

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A wide space to roam

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Archana

In Aurangabad, there is space. Open, wide, free-flowing space. I don’t have to stretch my eyes beyond tall buildings that scrape the sky to greet the life-giving sun. No, here, they are still squat, no more than 6 or 7 … Continue reading →

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