Post 4

On May 7th, we visited Shree Shikshan Evam Seva Sansthan (SSESS), where we were warmly welcomed with tea and snacks. The visit began with an introduction to the organisation and its mission. SSESS focuses on empowering women through skill development and employment opportunities, particularly in handcrafts. It was inspiring to learn that most of the workers are women One of the most engaging parts of the visit was the hands-on session, where we had the opportunity to learn how to create their handicrafts ourselves. Many of these pieces involve pine needle coiling, a traditional craft that requires patience and precision. While the activity was enjoyable, it also gave us insight into the physical challenges the women face daily, including shoulder and back pain, as well as finger injuries from working with the pine needles. This experience helped us better appreciate both the skill involved and the resilience of the artisans. We ended our time at SSESS by taking group photos, which felt like a meaningful way to close the visit and capture the connections we had made. 

Afterward, we visited Divine Earth Herbal Enterprises, where we were welcomed through a traditional Indian greeting ritual that made the experience feel both respectful and immersive. During this visit, we learned about the benefits of herbal medicine and how natural ingredients are used to support health and well-being. One of the highlights was getting to try tea made from natural herbs grown and prepared by the organization. The tea had a distinct, earthy flavour and was not only refreshing but also demonstrated how everyday remedies can be created from locally available plants. We also learned about the process behind these herbal products, including how the ingredients are sourced, prepared, and combined for different health purposes. This visit provided a different perspective on healthcare, one that emphasizes natural, preventative approaches alongside traditional knowledge.

On May 7th, we also visited Sidhbali Temple, a place that offered a calm and grounding contrast to the rest of our day. Surrounded by nature and set along the hillside, the temple had a peaceful atmosphere that immediately made us slow down and take in the moment. It felt like a space where both the environment and the energy of the people contributed to a sense of inner calm. We spent about an hour there, and every moment felt meaningful. As is customary, we removed our shoes before entering, which added to the feeling of respect and connection to the space. Walking barefoot on the temple grounds made the experience feel more personal and immersive.

What stood out most was witnessing the deep sense of devotion among the visitors. There were many people at the temple, yet despite the crowd, there was a quiet sense of order and shared purpose. Watching individuals pray and engage in rituals gave us a glimpse into the importance of faith in daily life for many people. It was a powerful reminder of how spiritual spaces can bring comfort, community, and a sense of belonging. We also took time to capture the moment through photos, not just as memories, but as a way to hold onto the feeling of peace the temple offered.

The next day, we visited two bamboo-related locations: Uttarakhand Bamboo and Fiber Development Board and SaRa Craft.

The first organization uses bamboo for many purposes. The bamboo they collect is used for structural beams, bamboo furniture and handicrafts, charcoal, incense, and fences to protect areas from boars. Nearly all the workers were women! We watched them split the bamboo, operate circular saws, drill holes, slice segments into thin strips, and polish incense sticks using various types of machinery. There was also a large furnace that heated the bamboo to produce charcoal, which is then ground into powder and formed into bricks to sell as fuel. 

It was shocking to see the disparity between the roles of women and men; the women are mothers who sed  their children to school in the morning, work during the day, then take care of their children at night. They perform all the labour, but the organization owners are all men. Furthermore, none of the workers wore PPE. They operated machinery with open-toed sandals, uncovered eyes, and a simple scarf over their mouth.

The second organization focuses on using bamboo for handicrafts. Most of their bamboo processing was done by hand, and the workers sat on the floor while they weaved. There were 8 female and 2 male workers, and they mentioned struggling with joint pain, especially when working overtime during large bulk orders for events like weddings. In another room, there were some workers using sewing machines to create items using canvas as well. There were many beautiful handicrafts there, and we left with a few plushie animal keychains and tote bags!

On our way back we made a stop in Haridwar to visit the Ganga River, which is one of the seven holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites. This part of the river is located where the river exits the Himalayan foothills, the water is still very cold. The river was incredibly beautiful and although it was incredibly hot, the breeze from the river helped to cool us down. 

In Hinduism, the river is revered as a goddess whose waters are believed to wash away sins, clear negative karma, and help devotees achieve spiritual liberation from the cycle of rebirth. For this reason, as you can see in the photos, the place was packed with people bathing in the river. When we were walking around, we had to weave our way through the large groups of people and it was sometimes hard to stay together.

It was really interesting to see this holy site, but it was not all good. Because it is such a popular site, there are many people there asking for money. This was very sad to see, as many of the people were elderly, or disabled people. There was even a moment when a young man was asking us for money, but he was slurring his words and looked very rough. When we continued walking, he started following us for a little bit, which was really scary. We ended up just increasing our pace, which made him stop following us. 

This was really fascinating, but also sad because we could literally see the contrast of people begging to our left and people bathing in the river to our right. It was like we were walking in the middle of two worlds, and on one side was this beautiful and sacred ritual, and on the other was intense human suffering and sadness.

After taking a day to rest, the next night we had a movie and fruit night! We cut up some fruit (and cucumbers for Stephanie), and even had a blind taste test between the different types of mangoes. After we finished the fruits, we went to watch the movie 3 Idiots, which is focused around three friends who go to the Imperial College of Engineering (ICE) in Delhi, which is supposed to be a parody of the IITs. Unfortunately, we only managed to finish half of the movie before getting too tired, but fortunately, this means that we will have to do another movie night!

The movie was incredibly funny, and we were constantly laughing throughout, but it also highlighted some of the issues in the country. For example, in the movie, one of their classmates at ICE is caused to commit suicide because of the intense pressure put on him at the school. This is something we have noticed in our time here as well. There seems to be this intense pressure put on students, to the point where it feels like suicide is the only way out. I am really happy we had this movie night because it helped alleviate some of the pressure we had been feeling. The fact that Dr. Li was there with us was incredibly comforting, because it showed that the faculty genuinely cares about our well-being outside of the classroom and recognizes the immense pressure we face.