
Maun Mela fishing festival and traffic near twin bridges in Uttarakhand
festival · hills
Maun Mela, a traditional community fishing festival held along the Aglar River in the Tehri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India.
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In this interview, Kavinder Singh Uniyal shares his personal journey of searching for Himalayan cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), locally known as yartsagumba or keeda jadi, a rare medicinal caterpillar fungus found in the high-altitude Himalayan meadows. He explains how he first became involved in this seasonal occupation, what motivated him to begin, and how many years he has spent searching for the valuable fungus. Kavinder also discusses the physical risks, difficult terrain, harsh weather, and challenges associated with this demanding work. During the interview, he speaks about Baling Village, a remote settlement in the Darma Valley of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand, which serves as a base for many collectors during the yarsagumba harvesting season. Kavinder Singh Uniyal shares
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Broadcast-quality masters are available from Wilderness Films India.
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Maun Mela, a traditional community fishing festival held along the Aglar River in the Tehri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India.

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