📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Project will be organised by the host organisation - RUCHI.
💼 What the programme involves
Festival of Lights is a national festival celebrated throughout the country with lot of zeal. This festival, falling on 30th October in 2016, is celebrated with a great fervor just like Christmas and goes on for 5 days. Diwali is followed by other local events like Budi Diwali, Bhaiya Dooj, Chhat Puja etc. In North India, as it is believed that it was on Diwali that Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya after killing the Demon king Ravana in Lanka.
Rock Garden in nearby Chandigarh city is of international fame and can be visited on week-end.
The volunteer will basically experience the culture, visit places and families for inter-cultural learnings and work a little on the farm occasionally.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will live in guest house/ home stay with simple conditions and share accommodation with other volunteers. All meals will be cooked and served in guest house. A cook will be there but volunteers are expected to help him and occasionally cook their own meals. Self-management is required. Sleeping bags are also necessary for volunteers looking or interested in trekking.
📍 About the location
Bandh is a small and sleepy village with 30 households and is situated close to RUCHI office in SSolan district of Himachal Pradesh. The area is scenic with a all year round beautiful climate. The village is 65 km north-west of Chandigarh city and 40 kms from Solan district headquarter. The entire area is hilly where the rural economy is based on agriculture and horticulture. This is a fruit growing area and is famous for producing Asia’s best peaches. The weather is always pleasant and the landscape is beautiful.
Self organized city tours and excursions. A variety of treks are available in close proximity. Shimla offers an opportunity to see high Himalayan Mountains. A visit to nearby Chail Palace boasting world’s highest cricket stadium can also be rewarding.
⚠️ Requirements
Interest in culture and festivals
ℹ️ Additional information
Months of October and November host two prominent Indian festivals of national importance. The dates are decided on yearly basis as per Hindu calendar. These camps are specially organized for those who are interested in Indian history and culture. This period is also supposed to be auspicious for marriages. Besides local festivals, volunteers will have an opportunity to attend, local weddings, visit lone Tibetan Bon Monastry and interact with villagers and educate them on health and environmental issues and concerns like global warming, climate changes, etc.