In the quiet mountain villages of Uttarakhand, nights sometimes refuse to sleep. Oil lamps flicker, drums begin to speak, and voices rise not to entertain, but to awaken. This is Jagar, one of the most powerful and living folk traditions of the central Himalayas, where gods are not worshipped from a distance but invoked, questioned,…
Author: Aman Munjal
The Weird Obsession with Crackers: When Ignorance Chokes Us All
It’s that time of the year again. The lights twinkle, sweets overflow, and the skies of North India turn into a war zone — not of celebration, but of smoke. Despite every warning, every campaign, every child coughing on the streets, there are still people proudly lighting up crackers like they’re doing the world a…
The Grim Reality of Government Schools in Uttarakhand
Education is meant to be the foundation of a better future — yet in many government schools across Uttarakhand, that foundation is crumbling. Having observed these schools closely, especially those catering to classes 6th to 10th, the situation is far more alarming than what statistics or official reports reveal. Apathy in the Classroom One of…
The Chimes House, Kausani – Where Time Slows Down and the Mountains Speak
There are places you visit, and there are places that stay with you — quietly, gently, like a melody you can’t get out of your mind. The Chimes House near Kausani is one of those places. Nestled in the lap of Kumaon’s pine-covered hills, this newly renovated homestay offers not just comfort and luxury, but…
Chugli Café: Where Conversations Brew Better Than Coffee
There are road trips that blur into memory — just long stretches of highway, signboards, and the hum of the engine. And then, there are those unexpected moments that make you smile long after the journey ends. For me, one such moment came during a recent drive when I spotted a small café by the…




