Culture Devi

25/04/2024

Bastar Food Trails at The Park Bangalore

We are super proud to bring the authentic taste of Bastar food to Bangalore from 24th to 28th April 2024. If you wish to indulge in the food prepared with the ingredients foraged from the forests of the tribal heartland of Bastar, then come visit us at The Park Bangalore.

We are waiting for you.

P.S - Jatiya Ram Baghel and Umesh Baghel are the chef duo presenting the food and I would share the stories of Bastar. ☺️☺️

20/04/2024

Chi Chingngoi Chunhoa Morung of the Konyaks

One of the oldest villages inhabited by the Konyaks, Chi is a beautiful small village. As the tour commenced with the visit to this village first, we got a glimpse of the preparations done for the Aoleang festival.

Morungs (Paan) are/were basically youth dormitories where cultural education is/was given. Bamboo and palm played the main role in the plant-based items used in the festival symbolising different rituals. We also visited the old Morung and the chief Angh's house nearby that has been turned into a museum.

The log drum that fascinates the spectators today was used to warn the villagers in case of intruders and other attacks. Chi village has a new log drum made in October 2023. Hunting and sacrificial ceremonies are performed for the making of a log drum.

To be continued...







Nagaland Tourism

12/04/2024

Nagaland Aoleang Festival Tour curated under Culture Devi presented the guests/travellers with an active participation in the celebration of Konyak Naga tribe.

Guests from Kerala, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh were mesmerized with the dramatic weather of Mon district carrying the heritage of the Konyak Nagas and the famous septuagenarian headhunters.

From feasting on the local cuisine, being welcomed by the locals in their homes, and sharing laughter, this trip by Culture Devi is a first in many ways.

Thank you Susheel Sir, Ranjana Ma'am, Jeet Singh Arya Sir for trusting and giving an opportunity to host you in the northeastern Highlands.

Stay tuned to know more about the experience of this tour.

23/03/2024

Mavli Mata and the Joda Holika Dahan at Jagdalpur, Bastar

There are many customs that have been a part of the cultural heritage of Bastar since ancient times, one of them is 'Joda Holika Dahan'.

In front of Mavli Mata Temple, Jagadalpur, twin holika dahan takes place every year. Mavli Mata has been the most powerful deity of the Bastar region even before the Kakatiya/Chalukya dynasty.

The main events of Holika Dahan starts from Dantewada and it will be done at Sati Shila in the memory of a princess, proceeding to Madpal where the King of Bastar would take a procession on a wooden chariot in reverence to Mavli Mata and then the Joda Holika Dahan in front of Mavli Mata Temple, Jagdalpur.

Picture 4 is of Kankalin Mata at Mavli Mata Temple, Jagdalpur.

13/03/2024

Ghotpal Mela celebrated the reverence of Usendi Tado Dev sets the tone of the celebration in Dantewada district. The symbolic forms of the deities are offered with seva arji (sacrifice) after being welcomed in the mela.

08/03/2024

अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महिला दिवस में बस्तर क्षेत्र की वीर- वीरांगनाओं को सम्मान

बस्तर के मुक्ति संग्राम के नाम से वेब सीरीज का पहला अध्याय, बस्तर एक स्त्री राज्यम शीर्षक से बस्तर क्षेत्र की वीरांगनाओं पर आधारित डॉक्यूमेंट्री फिल्म यू ट्यूब पर।

बस्तर एक स्त्री राज्यम शीर्षक से बस्तर क्षेत्र की वीर-वीरांगनाओं पर आधारित डॉक्यूमेंट्री फिल्म में महारानी प्रमिला देवी, राजकुमारी चमेली देवी, मासकदेवी, रमोतीन माड़िन की जीवनी का विवरण दिया गया है जिन्होंने अपनी जल, जंगल और जमीन के लिए अपना सर्वोच्च बलिदान दिया है।

https://youtu.be/DVk9J_n0zeE

भारत के स्वाधीनता संग्राम के अध्याय में अंग्रेजों की दमनकारी नीतियों एवं जल, जंगल, जमीन की रक्षा के लिये बस्तर के आ....

02/03/2024

A recent interview of our Founder, Bindu Blossoms with Dr Nilesh Tiwari Sir about the journey from engineering background to writing and cultural tourism.

Ms. B. Bindu is the founder of Culture Devi (https://culturedevi.in) from Bastar, Chhattisgarh, India Ms. Bindu is Electronics & Telecommunication Engineer w...

02/03/2024

ARUNACHAL PRADESH TOUR 2024
- Tawang Chapter

(5 Days/4 Nights)
(Plan your trip in March and April)

To the land of dawn-lit mountains, join in to explore the natural wonders in and around Tawang.

For details, please contact 8770665005

29/02/2024

BASTAR FOOD CHRONICLES - the last day at The Park Hyderabad

Jatiya transformed in a good way learning the techniques used by the professionals in food handling. And I was proud to see him, just the way he was-is.

Speaking of the food, on the last day, Sunday Brunch was set up at and and Jatiya was making the air smoky with the raw smell of Anda Pudga. visited us on that day.

So, we concluded the festival with great delight just as the moon on that night. (Slide to see the picture 7)

The last picture of Bastariya Thali is by

28/02/2024

Bastar Food Festival featured in Deccan Chronicle

The Park Hyderabad, situated in Somajiguda, is currently hosting a Bastar pop-up festival at Verandah

27/02/2024

The inaugural day when the simple rooted food from Bastar marked the tables at . It wouldn't have been possible without the confidence shown by Executive Chef .pandari Sir. He believed in us and took us on this wonderful journey.

We met some wonderful people (esteemed writers and bloggers) on the inaugural day. Thank you Ma'am, Ma'am, , ji, Ma'am, , for welcoming the food with open hearts.

Wishing to see you soon in the land of Bastar and host you here.

The inaugural ceremony was held at

Continued from BASTAR FOOD CHRONICLES

20/02/2024

Travelling goddesses and gods of Bastar

Can you believe that the ancestral spirits worshipped as gods/goddesses travel from one place to another, have a family and die too?

Yes, the animism culture followed by the indigenous communities show us the parallel ways of belief system.

In the first picture, two shamans are sitting in a palanquin.

13/02/2024

As the sun reaches the horizon to set, the gods/goddesses are taken from the shrine to the mela ground.

A delightful and enchanting sight to witness the connection of nature and culture.

- Netanar Mandai, 2023

07/02/2024

NORTH SIKKIM TOUR 2024

Have you witnessed the wonders of East Himalayas and the organic food of Sikkim? DM us to plan your winter NORTH SIKKIM TOUR from February to May.

Special offers for tours till 15th March.

Destination:
- Gangtok
- Lachung
- Yumthang
- Singhik

Please DM or contact 8770665005 for the cost.

07/02/2024

BASTAR FOOD CHRONICLES (contd.)

Just like that man dancing happily with his Maandar (folk musical instrument) at the left corner of the frame, our spirits were doing jhingalalaa...

So, Jatiya Baghel from Tirtha (he is the chairman of the local tourism community there) and Suryam Didi from Millet Cafe, Jagdalpur were the people who would present the culinary delicacies of Bastar at The Park Hyderabad. And I, accompanied them, as the curator and marketing promoter.

Both of them had their first flight experience. It was a wonderful moment to be a part of their excitement.

And then we landed in a luxury boutique property, The Park Hyderabad . Chef Naresh and Chef Ram Babu assisted Jatiya and Suryam Didi for the whole duration of six days in a corporate kitchen.

Slide to see the last picture where Jatiya is ready to soar from nature's hearth to a dazzling world of seasoned professionals.

P.S - Did you notice the pigeon making the last frame dramatic?

To be continued...

06/02/2024

BASTAR FOOD CHRONICLES (contd.)

After the curation of the menu, the next step was the procurement of some raw materials from Bastar.

Dear friends, do you know about the various techniques used by the rural folk to preserve food items for future use?

One of the highly craved items is Turu suksi (smoked turu fish). When you visit Bastar, I will show you around a local weekly market and we will explore together.

Another is Chapra (Weaver red ants) sourced from the forests.

Can you imagine the scene where we took two cartons of these items via flight to Hyderabad?

P.S - The security personnel at Jagdalpur airport were equally excited to know about the food festival and helped us pack the items nicely.

LITTLE JOYS SHARED...

Image Courtesy - Lakshya Singh Rajawat

05/02/2024

CREATING SPACE FOR HAPPINESS

Dear friends, you would have visited or heard about Chitrakote waterfall in Bastar (although I doubt it following my recent visit to Hyderabad). The local tourism community of Tirtha village manages the destination where camping and other tourism-related activities are carried out.

When the discussion about the Bastar Food Festival (brain child of Chef Satya Pandari) turned into a fact to be executed from 23rd to 28th January, it was an unasked blessing. It all started from the visit of Atul Sharma in Bastar, sharing the food posts and everything that was set in motion, each piece placed at the right position.

What came next -
This type of curation was the first for me. Who would have thought that the love to share about local cuisine could turn into such a wonderful opportunity!

Trial and tasting sessions started after that. From curating the menu to finalising the experts to presenting the local cuisine of Bastar at The Park Hyderabad , it was a learning journey.

A mix up of the local cuisine and millets based menu was set to make in the final list.

To be continued...

27/01/2024

As Bastar Chronicles Feast and Folklore at The Park Hyderabad is to be over soon, here I am sharing some snippets of Aamat.

Aamat, a multi-variation dish, that is an integral part of the rural Bastar plate, is prepared with seasonal produce. This version of Aamat was prepared at the end of Monsoon season.

In the first image, you can see three varieties of mushrooms, foraged from the forests.

In the second image, you can see the varieties of peas and grams to be used in Aamat.

In the third image, you can see a variety of wild beans (Aadan semi) and a mixture of soaked rice, ginger, garlic and fresh chillies.

In the fourth image, pounding of rice is being done in Dheki.

In the fifth image, ingredients are cooked over a hearth. Did you notice the traditional anklet?

In the seventh image, the plate is set to tantalize my soul as I savour the traditional Bastariya cuisine.

Image Courtesy - Bindu Blossoms

15/01/2024

A mixture of taste and glances.

One of the local markets, Bastar

12/01/2024

Dzuleke - a village where the river flows underground.

Do you know that the rocks of Nagaland have formations from the seabed of the ancient sea of Tethys. There are many geological surveys conducted that have evidence of the same.

This ancient land holds charms that left me mesmerized at my first visit. What seemed a quiet scene was transformed by the wind and the views.

My guide, Mr Aba, gave me time to just soak in the surrounding.

I am taking a tour focused on the slow travel through these amazing villages of Nagaland (from 7th to 13th March 2024).

You can DM for the complete details or any curiosities that you would like to discuss about Nagaland.

09/01/2024

A quaint village in Nagaland surrounded by small hills and a scanty population. It is like a Wes Anderson themed wallpaper - minimal, intriguing, charming, all at the same time.

Can you notice an old bridge over the left corner of the frame?

- Dzuleke, Nagaland

Join in Nagaland Heritage Tour from 7th to 13th March 2024 to explore the many charms.

07/01/2024

Scenes of Mandai

- 1st picture shows by/for whom this is celebrated
- 2nd picture shows where this is celebrated
- 3rd picture shows a part of the background of the celebration (Documentation process) by Bastar Bhushan Sir

Did you notice the prickly pear in the third picture?

06/01/2024

NAGALAND AOLEANG FESTIVAL (The Konyak Heritage)

Join in this tour as all the Konyaks celebrate Aoleang Festival for a good harvest. A tribal immersive tour that will introduce you to the many charms of the villages in the Northern side of the state.

Date: 31st March to 5th April 2024

For details please DM or contact at 8770665005

01/01/2024

On the first day of the New Year, let us share the journey of an adventurous couple . They are driving through and exploring the diversity of India. In late September, they explored the length of Bastar division and took part in the local festivals too.

Traveling to experience the rich culture of our country can be seen in their profile. Please check out their journey.

27/12/2023

The pluralism of culture

- Scene from a local fair (madai), Bastar, nearby Kanger Valley National Park

Image Courtesy - Bindu Blossoms

26/12/2023

Shamanism in Bastar

There are many places where shamanism is practiced, majorly in tribal dominated regions. Bastar has the rich tradition of shamans who give offerings to the spirits/deities.

Madai is a perfect time to be a silent spectator to these rituals and understand the culture.

Image Courtesy - Bindu Blossoms

Travel with Culture Devi to witness the rich culture of Bastar.