Standing an astonishing 20 feet tall, the Chendu is a towering structure that temple devotees balance precariously on their heads during the vibrant Kumbha Kudam festival of Kerala. Holding and dancing with such a monumental object is no small feat — it is hazardous, demanding incredible focus, strength, and grace. Devotees chant the name of […]
From an aerial vantage point, the village knows no secrets from him. Twice daily, he ascends and descends towering palm trees, his sturdy physique forged by this demanding ritual. In one hand, he wields a buffalo femur bone, and in the other, a black container—once carved from the shell of a bottle gourd, now often […]
That one-kilometer hike from your parked vehicle may leave you breathless. Along the way, mischievous bonnet macaques perched on pepper vines might attempt to snatch your mineral water. The summer noon, with temperatures soaring to 38°C, will coax rivulets of sweat from your skin. But all these trials melt away the moment you step into […]