A Long march for The Handmade.
Day 7 05th February, 2018 Tavaregera (Tawaragera)
We set off early this morning from Gumgeri, as we had a long distance to cover ahead. Meanwhile, we took a brief stop in a beautiful temple premise in Hanchinala, a village for breakfast. On the side of the road, beautifully woven tents, pitched in an open field and a group of people, the nomadic Buda Beda Jangamas camp site!
Continue reading A blissful morning listening to Putturaj Gavai
Day 10 8 February 2018 Hampi
We set off at 6 am as usual, and with the breaking of the dawn we found ourselves traversing an undulating landscape. We did not meet too many villagers but saw more paddy grown along the way. We also saw a small shrine of Huligemma and a woman priest too. Continue reading The Handmade Splendour of Hampi
Day 5 of Padayatra, 03rd February, 2018 Dotihal
As usual we woke up at 5 AM. At prayer today, in addition to the usual “Raghupati Raghava Rajaram”, there was a beautiful rendering of “Vaishnava jana to” by our volunteer, Nishanth. We left Kandagal at 6 AM. As we moved towards the centre of the village, some people who had gathered near a tea shop enquired about our walk and offered us tea. They also asked us to have prasada today in their village. Sharing of food with guests is considered offering prasada. It is a gesture of warmth.
Day 5 of Padayatra 4th February, 2018 Gumgeri
We set off from Dotihal in the morning, with our heads still reeling from the engaging weaving demonstrations we witnessed.
Around 10am, we reached Kushtagi, which is at the junction of National Highway-50 and State Highway-59, about 50KMs from Koppal. Today being Sunday, the entire town was caught up with the Santhe (fair). In what might have been a large fair, is now divided by the National Highway, and an unheeded flyover at the junction. One side of the Highway is the Cattles section of the fair, and on the other was all farm produce, Millets to Vegetables, Kitchen Stoves to Earthen pots, cleaning items like different kinds of brooms for different types of floors, Apparels, Footwear, everything you will need if you want to settle down in a village.
Day 4 of the Padayatra 2 February 2018, Kandgal
We started from the Saranamma Tayi MaTha walking seven kilometers along more fields of earthy shades, hints of green and dry gold kissed flowers. Mixed-crops of Kadale, Jola, Kusube in straight rows and Jave Godhi in the peripheral patches, Fields of Gold, indeed! we stopped at Harinapura, for breakfast and short rest under a tamarind tree.
Continue reading In the Fields of Gold | Tracing Manteswamy’s Route
Day 3 of the Padayatra 1 February 2018, Saranamma Tayi MaTha, Sajjalagudda
Starting from Jawoor while the “Supermoon” was still setting, we walked along the high-walled dam area for a good 5km! On the other side of the road were a couple of villages stirring into motion along with the rising sun. Being close to the dam, few crops were grown here, most significantly Paddy, Cotton, Jowar and Chillies.
Continue reading Under the shining Super Moon | Tracing Manteswamy’s Route
Day - 2 of Padayatra January 31, 2018 Jaawoor
Greetings from Jaawoor! We reached here walking 13 Km from Jogundabhavi. On our way, we stopped at Narayanapur, a displaced village by the Basava Sagara Dam across River Krishna.
We spent most of the day at Kori Sangameshwara Gudi, a picturesque shrine by the banks of the river.
Under the shade of one tamarind and two Neem trees, this shrine is another example of harmony. The deity is worshiped by both Hindus and Muslims and the sanctum sanctorum is one of the most unique sights we have seen.
Continue reading On the Banks of Krishna | Tracing Manteswamy’s Route
Come to Kodekal!
for
A Unity Convention of the Handmaking People
and
A Long March for the Handmade
Tue · Jan 30, 2018 · 10 am
Farmers, Weavers, Craftsman, Cowherds, Shepherds, Agricultural workers are all going to congregate at Kodekal for unity. Hindus, Muslims, Christians all are going to congregate there for unity. “Touchables and Untouchables” are both going to congregate there for unity. Students, Youth, Writers, Intellectuals are all going to congregate there for unity.
The unity of handmaking people, after all, has a long tradition. In Karnataka, during the twelfth century, saint Basava brought the handmaking people together. In the Fifteenth century, Saint Kodekal Basava and Saint Kanaka Dasa again brought them together. Manteswamy, another saint poet, took the call of unity, ‘down to the dark state’, as he called it. In the twentieth century Gandhiji and Ambedkar, through their sacrifice, constructed the unity of the handmaking people all over again. Continue reading Come to Kodekal | A Unity Convention of the Handmaking People | Tue · Jan 30, 2018
