Month: November 2017

RootsandLeisure_Faces

Faces | Though We’re Poles Apart, We Bring Out The Best in Each Other

  “On a hazy November afternoon, Archeological Park, Mehrauli, offered us the perfect backdrop for a photograph to represent our friendship. The murky water of the pond and flowers surrounding us reminded me of how seemingly unrelated and completely different things can come together so beautifully. The two of us couldn’t be more different yet, I am so grateful we became friends last year.” ~ Payia Grace, Student

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A Blossoming Crowd at the International Cherry Blossom Festival Shillong,2017

  Not long after the first International Cherry Blossom Festival pulled in almost 30,000 tourists from the nearing states to Shillong last year, Meghalaya yet again geared up for the second international cherry blossom festival. It was held at different locations across Shillong from the 8th November – 11th November 2017 to commemorate the cherry blossom spread through out the state. A quick look back!  The Himalayan cherry blossom grown wild in Meghalaya has long been associated with Japan. This annual festival is a reminiscent of the local heritage with its white and pink blooms all over the hills of Shillong. With around 5,000 trees planted along the Umiam Shillong road, Mawphlang and Ward’s Lake, the government of Meghalaya further targets to plant 20,000 trees by the festivals’ 50th anniversary. Day One of this years’ event kicked off at the 5th Ground, Polo Grounds, Shillong hosted by the Meghalaya Minister for Forests & Environment, Clement Marak. The opening day was marked by a pleasant painting and drawing competition followed by story telling, local folklore and fashion show accompanied by a great display of lights at …

RootsandLeisure_BiishoVillage

Unearthing Manipur’s Pristine Beauty at Biisho Village | Travel

  Biisho is a beautiful village of the Poumai Nagas in the district of Senapati in Manipur. The village’s soil is known to be very fertile as it sits on the banks of Barak and Darai rivers.  The village is known for its lush valley called Zhophao, which is a vast meadow that serves as a pleasant spot for backpackers to set up tents. The valley serves travelers with a perfect weekend escape to the hills and the rivers. With some pretty unique experiences hidden in its depths, Biisho is more than just a destination to experience waking up to mist ladened mountains. As you enter the village, you will be greeted with excited and beautiful smiles of the locals. On a lazy afternoon, you will mostly find the villagers nonchalantly sipping a hot cup of tea sitting on their porches made of bamboo or by the verandah. A sight that is only but a slight cue of the simple joys of life that the blissful village enjoys. Bissho was once explored by travelers far and few. The village has …

RootsandLeisure_ThejYhome-Artist

“The human mind never stops thinking; it’s why we run upstairs after turning off the lights at night!”: Thej Yhome | Digital Manga Artist from Nagaland

  A very few of us know the fact that our favorite ’90s cartoon series “The Jungle Book”, based on Rudyard Kipling’s book, was an anime. That was the start of our fascination with anime and we didn’t even know what it was! Eventually, Shinchan and Doraemon made their way to Indian TV sets, but the Japanese comic art form called ‘manga’ is yet to enjoy its fair share of popularity in the country. That’s why, Naga artist and manga illustrator, Thejakhrienuo Yhome’s work deserves more attention. Tell us a little bit about yourself My name is Thejakhrienuo Yhome, but I go by Thej Yhome. I’m 23 and work as a digital artist in Kohima, Nagaland. Right now, I’m enjoying the freedom of a gap year student and freelancing as an artist at home. What got you started? I enjoy telling stories and I love narrating them through comics and animation. But I also work on illustrations and other commissioned artwork. What initially sparked your interest in this field? I became fascinated with Japanese anime, especially Pokemon …

RootsandLeisure_Faces_YamunaGhat

Faces | A Detox from Delhi Smog at the Ghats of Yamuna River

  “This is a shot of my friend, Emily, captured one beautiful morning around 5 a.m. at Yamuna Ghat in New Delhi. I love shooting portraits and exploring spaces with unique surroundings. My friends and I made this spontaneous plan to have a photoshoot at this location early morning. What began as an impromptu shoot ended up being a wonderful, fun experience. It was about an hour and a half drive away from the place we were staying. Devotees often come here early to bathe in the holy water and feed the birds. The birds you see behind in the picture are Siberian Seagulls. Hundreds of them migrate every year during winter season (between October and March) and flock across the holy rivers of Yamuna. We were told by the boatman that feeding the birds is often believed to bring good karma.  This was my first visit to Yamuna Ghat and it was truly an awe-inspiring sight watching the seagulls swivel around the rivers as we fed them, while riding on our boat. That was the exact moment I captured this photograph! The ambience …

RootsandLeisure_Illustrator-AyangbeMannen

Breaking New Ground in Modern Art with Her Distinct Style : Meet Artist/ Illustrator- Ayangbe Mannen from Nagaland

  Self-taught artist and graphic designer, Ayangbe Mannen has no qualms about mixing business with pleasure. Her Instagram feed is filled with a unique artistic style, capturing the beauty of the female form. Her passion for mixing watercolour, ink and her vivid imagination has drawn Mannen out of the confines of stereotypical artwork and led her to discover her unique style. A style that is memorable and fascinating. We interviewed Mannen to get a peek into how she draws that strange paradox between beauty and chaos in her artwork. Tell us a little bit about yourself – where you’re from, and what you do? My name is Ayangbe Mannen. I am a self-taught artist from Nagaland and am currently based out of Delhi. I am also a freelance designer and illustrator. Most of my work, whether professionally or as my own creative expression, is an ongoing learning process. How did you get started as an artist? I have always loved to draw. I think a lot of it comes from seeing my mother paint. She’s a great artist. …

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Farmstay & Experiential Travel : A Dash of Heritage and Beauty with Palighar Homestay | Kalimpong

  “Oh! Heaven is a place on earth.” December is almost here, and most of us are feverishly looking all over the internet for a great winter getaway to usher the New Year. Well, aren’t you the lucky one today? Because we have found you just the right place to be at when you step into the first day of the coming new year.  PaliGhar is a countryside farm-stay that’s situated in a small town called Echhey in West Bengal’s scenic destination, Kalimpong.  Kabir Pradhan, the founder of PaliGhar homestay, tells us why PaliGhar is more than just “another hotel”, and how they’ve worked on keeping the place connected to its roots, heritage and culture without compromising the quality of comfort and service they offer their guests. Tell us a bit about yourself. I am Kabir Pradhan and am 32 years old. After completing my Bachelors in Commerce at Calcutta University, I realized that the subject didn’t interest me much. I then pursued a Post-Graduate Diploma in Travel & Tourism Management from the Indian Institute of …

RootsandLeisure_JonathanYhome

On Following Your Dreams And Becoming a Full-Time Musician : Jonathan Yhome

They say dreamers can be dangerous men. The world fears them for they, more often than not, act on their dreams with an intention to succeed at all costs. Jonathan Yhome followed his dream  and became a full-time musician. At Nagaland’s business town, Dimapur, Yhome strives everyday to reach his goal of becoming a successful musician. This is his story. Will you be releasing an EP anytime soon? I have not released an album or an EP yet, but I have officially written songs that have been featured as OSTs for movies, for example, ”Something New” was featured in the movie ”Nana – A Tale of Us” by Dreamz Unlimited. A song I wrote for my parents called‘‘Send Me Away’‘ was featured on The The REC.urrent.  I’ve also released a single called ‘‘Before We Know” and Sofar Sounds featured another single of mine called ”Go Tell Your Mother”. What sparked your interest in this field initially? I started my musical journey when I first joined the Nagaland Conservatory of Music in 2013. Ever since I was a kid I …

RootsandLeisure_Faces-UrbanState

Faces | Creating Positivity Through Urban Streetstyle Dance Culture : SoulMafia from Aizawl

  “This picture is from an event at ‘Infinite Ainawn’ (a picnic spot in Aizawl). They were celebrating their one year anniversary of the place, and had invited this hip-hop dance crew called ‘SoulMafia’ to perform and entertain the visitors present at the venue. Everyone had a ball out there watching the crew perform their unique streetstyle sets with such an incredible amount of high-level energy! We were all fascinated by their b-boying skills – they performed their act like it was done back in the days with their old-skool, street-style choreography. They had attracted a great deal of attention at the site. In fact, the crowd by the pool and slides was larger in number as compared to the people inside the hall at the park. It was such a refreshing experience witnessing this talented crew express themselves through such impressive sets! ” ~FootLoose (_urban_state), Mizoram  

RootsandLeisure_JustCheesecakes-Amelia Lalremdiki

Just Cheesecakes : How A Passion Project Turned into a Business Venture | Amelia Lalremdiki from Mizoram

Did you know that cheesecake supposedly originated in ancient Greece and was served at the first Olympic Games? The oldest existing written recipe is credited to Roman politician Marcus Cato around the first century B.C. Fast forward to today, I find myself sitting in a cafe with a cup of steaming hot coffee and a piece of Japanese cheesecake, feeling like I’m eating a slice of history. On that note, today I am specifically dreaming of a slice from ‘Just Cheesecakes’ from Aizawl. Introducing Amelia Lalremdiki – the mastermind behind the brand, to learn about how it all began and how her hobby evolved into a successful business. We caught up with her to discover how her passion for baking led to the creation of ‘Just Cheesecakes’. Imtee: hi Amelia, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your background in baking? Amelia: My name is Amelia Lalremdiki, born and brought up in Aizawl. I recently finished my Masters in Mass Communication. My interest in baking stems from a deeply rooted love …