Delhi Pride Walk 2016

Delhi Pride was one of the very first Pride Walks I participated in about seven years ago.

Much has changed since - I moved to a new city, came out of the closet fully, and helped in the Pride Walk organisations in the new city I call home - Mumbai.

And the difference this time around, was the fact that I walked without a mask.

#HousesOfIndia Story 36 - Felicity

Pradeep Bahri, a businessman in Gurugram, considers his house lucky. Built a little over a decade ago, Pradeep had initially bought it only as an investment. The family then gave it out as a guest house for a few years, before moving into and making it their home. Pradeep, his wife Amita, their son Udit, and daughter-in-law Katrina live in this palatial 5-bedroom home.

Katrina and Udit's global love story started a little over 5 years ago, and today the beautiful couple lives with Udit's parents in their Gurugram home. They met each when they were both studying in the UK; he at Oxford, and she at the London School of Economics. They marries in February of this year.

Katrina has always loved vintage designs and decor, and always finds ways to add Victorian décor to her space. Their house in Gurugram is no different. She is also slowly adding elements of Finnish decor to her house. Finland is famous for its glasses/crystal work. They also have a tradition of having a Gnome in every room!

Another beautiful feature in the family's house is the use of stained glass. Not only was the stained glass shipped in from Lucknow, it was also made Mr. Bahri's sister-in-law!

The family was initially a little apprehensive to move to this house in Gurugram after staying in Saket, in central Delhi. Pradeep says,"In the beginning, it felt a little disconnected because all our friends were in Delhi; but eventually you get used to it". The house is in a peaceful locality and faces a park, both of which are rarities in Gurugram!

Perhaps Pradeep's favourite part of the house is how open and airy it is. With an abundance of natural light and enviable open space inside, he loves the fact that they don't need bright artificial lighting. Who wouldn't?! Pradeep considers his home lucky for him and his family, and for good reason. He fondly says, "whoever comes to this house, gets a good feeling"

This Photo Essay was made exclusively for Housing.com for their campaign 'Houses of India'.

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Getting to Ziro

 

Car Sickness

And she fell asleep on my shoulder. When we reached Hapoli, she bought me a bar of chocolate for the inconvenience caused.

The two officers of the Indo-Tibetan Border Security Force who helped us get a local shared passenger car that cost about eight times less than what the touts and drivers standing outside Naharlagun Station were charging.

TIPS FOR THE JOURNEY

1. Carry your own tiffin box, spoon, waterbottle, hand towel, hand sanitiser, first aid kit, Newspaper that can be reused. Carry light snacks like biscuits and fruits.

2. Have your ID Card, the travel permit, money and phone on you at all times.

3. Be respectful of the local culture. Do not stare, do not harrass them for photos. Respect the privacy of the locals.

4. Dress for the weather - it can get pretty chilly, and its raining most of the times, so carry a raincoat and a pair of gumboots.

5. If you're a smoker and need a specific brand of cigarettes, then carry packs of them too. Shops in Ziro and surrounding areas do not keep brands like Classic or Marlboro.

#HousesOfIndia Story 34 - Harmony

Tucked away in a small town of Daporijo, where ducks roam free and you are always within eyesight of a nearby hill, is the home of Aayo, the 56-year old matriarch of the Rai family. 

In a country where patriarchy and its associated pitfalls is the norm, the culture in Aayo's family and the whole of Arunachal Pradesh seems like a breath of fresh air, as well as hope for the future. Aayo has 3 children, all girls. She has 3 grandchildren, all girls. Her second daughter and her husband live with Aayo and she, a widow, is the undisputed head of the family. Though a novel concept in the rest of the country, in states like Arunachal, it's just the norm.

Aayo's home is as self-sufficient as it gets. Her house is situated on the banks of the Subansiri river, and enjoys fertile land because of it. The family grows several vegetables in their backyard, like ginger, red spinach, bhindi, pumpkin, a local vegetable called kuchu. It's not all flora though! They also have five pigs (for food and money, when they are eventually sold), ducks, ten pigeons (pets) and two chickens, for eggs.

Out of over 20 tribes that are native to Arunachal Pradesh, Aayo and her family belong to the Tagin tribe. Tagins mostly live in Daporiojo, where the family now resides. In villages like Daporijo around Arunachal Pradesh, the harmony between nature and people is extraordinary. Their religion is called Donyi Polo (Donyi is the sun, Polo is the moon). They worship the earth as mother.

The tribe has an interesting cultural norm that goes against what most of the country is used to. When a Tagin marriage takes place, unlike in the rest of India, the groom gives the dowry. So, it's very ‘profitable’ to have a daughter! Cases like Aayo's, where her son-in-law lives in her home, are very common. 

While families like Aayo's seemingly lead a very idealistic, simple life, they have worries too; though they're vastly different from ours. Although Aayo is able to grow many vegetables in her backyard, she has always regretted that the land is not suited to grow rice. Because she has to buy this staple from the shops, it becomes an expensive proposition for her.

Aayo's simple life revolves around her home, her bountiful vegetable garden, and her grandchildren. How wonderful it must be, to live in complete harmony with nature!

Join us on the journey @housingindia.