The natalas are massive, boring, dark and industrial Chinabased. The whole area is shady, uninviting and downright monsoon-fevered. Even though it’s summer here, we find the rainmaking capacity of the natalas astonishing. Today, as always, we headed towards the borders with our eyes wide open. We knew that the floods would reach these areas very soon. So did our locals and tourists alike take shelter in this corner of the world? Let’s see… Achcha ka tuja e kya hua stopped at Tirupati Ketha in September last year to attend a function where her family was gathering for a function organised by a local NGO. As many as 25 families from across the country have agreed to take part in a ‘Tuja Bandhan-a-Thani’ party which involves drinking water from rivulets on both sides of the Indian border (see pic below). The water is then given to worms that produce food for people living on land where they live – a process known as ‘Dalit Ekkhana’ or ‘mosquito farming’. It is rebranded Dalit Ekthan as Achcha ka tuja 915m us ipo The event had been organised by an NGO called Maisuri Vimukti Vaidyanatha (MVV) who want to develop parks and gardens in these remote areas. It was during
Tuja Bandhan-a-Thani Dalit Ekthan
On the third day of our visit, the family from Bhilwara started a ceremony at the Bhilwara Ganga which is the most sacred place of the local people. The ceremony featured food for the worms and adjacent areas was full of religion, dance, religious ornaments and traditional music. The local people from Bhilwara are mainly farmers and herders who follow a traditional lifestyle.
Walk to paddy field
We were immediately taken to paddy fields. The paddy fields of Bhilwara are also known for their rich and rare breeding of gram paddy. We were soon informed that the field where our family was enjoying the day was also a part of this rich paddy field.
Food for worms
The food for the worms started at around 5am. We were fed cheese and sugarcane liquor while our guests were fed nutritional gourmet food. The food provided to the worms is exclusively provided by the local people. They go to such lengths to provide the food to the worms. The entire event was a celebration of the food – both for the worms and the people.
Conclusion
The natalas of Bhilwara are amongst the most beautiful parts of the country. We spent our day exploring the rich and diverse culture of the people of Bhilwara. The place is peaceful and picturesque with a dense greenery and rich biodiversity. We were happy to be there when the floods are coming and the place is pretty much submerged. So, we definitely would visit this part of the country again and again! The Indian state of Goa also has some of the most amazing places to visit. We hope you’re ready to visit these places and give nature a free pass for a while!
