Recently, I was invited to give a speech at Villupuram Kondattam, a local festival celebrating all the aspects of Tamil culture: seeds, medicinal plants, local foods, music, dance, and social needs.

While watching a dance troop from Erode, it was really inspiring to hear an old man who was playing a drum say that he is sharing his art so that traditional music and dance doesn’t get forgotten. There were also many people selling traditional seeds, amazing varieties of bottle gourds, giant elephant tusk ladies fingers, and varieties of turmeric I’ve never seen before, I went home with bags of seeds, a very happy farmer!

At such celebrations, people feel connected; it really exemplifies cultural identity and collective values. I remember such festivals as a child in England(albeit much smaller in size!)

Celebration is inherent to culture all over the world. At Solitude Farm, festivals are the pinnacle of our work. They bring joy, learning, and a deep sense of community. It is easy to create festivals all you need is a little love.