Residents at Kurma Gramam seen preparing food in large vessels over firewood in their kitchen in Srikakulam district. The method involves using wood-fired stoves instead of modern cooking fuels, reflecting the village’s commitment to preserving sustainable way of life.
| Photo Credit: V. RAJU
Long before the first light of day touches the hills of Anthakapalli, 28-year-old Srikanth is already awake. At around 3.30 a.m., inside a mud house in Kurma Gramam, the glow of a diya (lamp) flickering inside a lantern, its flame nearly fading as the castor oil runs dry. He quietly refills it. There is no electricity in the Vedic village, the soft illumination of the earthen lamps are the only source of light.
The 28-year-old begins his day with a simple routine. He sweeps the earthen floor of his home, freshens up, and takes a bath with warm water, heated on a firewood stove, as the houses do not have LPG connections. By then, his wife is ready too. Together, they step out, holding a lantern, to the prayer hall, a few metres from their home. With no street lights, the lantern guides them through the darkness. By 4.30 a.m., the village gathers at the prayer hall, located at the entrance of the village.
Published – April 10, 2026 01:09 am IST
