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Rajesh Reddy

@yogithebear2

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Weeks of work, late nights, and dedication from our small but mighty team. And now, finally, it’s almost time. Nilgiri Threads: The Art of the Toda opens June 12th at Gallery 47-A, Khotachi Wadi, Bombay. We can’t wait to share it with you.
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#nilgirithreads #todaembroidery #coonoorandco #artofthetoda gallery47a

[Toda embroidery, Nilgiris, indigenous art, 47 A, bts, textile art, handmade, pukhoor, mumbai exhibition, slow craft]

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A couple of days ago, while scrolling (doom), something caught my eye, an article about a gorgeous, rare flower that blooms only once every twelve years. It was written by Lathika George for @coonoorandco and it spoke about the flower we know in Sri Lanka as “Nelu.” and in the Nilgiri Hills it is called “Kurunji Nilam.”. The plant belongs to the Strobilanthes genus. Just a few months ago, its blooming season at Horton Plains National Park had everyone talking.

And then something clicked....wait… I’ve painted this!!!

I immediately dug through my archive and found this piece: a depiction of Strobilanthes lupulina, alongside the Ceylon Blue Oakleaf butterfly (Kallima philarchus) and its life cycle. The Blue Oakleaf butterfly larvea feeds on this particular plant. The plant is quite eye-catching, but the butterfly is easy to miss, thanks to its incredible camouflage, resembling a dried oak leaf… which is exactly how it got its name.

This painting is part of Metamorphosis Papiliones Ceylonensis, my first solo exhibition. The Blue Oakleaf holds a special place for me. It was one of the very first butterflies I ever painted (second painting). It took an incredible amount of time back then, and looking at it now, I still can’t quite believe I pulled it off at that stage of my life… especially since I was just stepping into the natural history art world at the time.

#memories #butterflies #nilgiris #strobilanthes #naturelover

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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 — 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗹, 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀: 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹, 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲-𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱.

We’re grateful to 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳 𝗔𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘂 @avinandankundu and the 𝗦𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗰𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗮 @sienna_calcutta team, who brought extraordinary care to the table — weaving Bengal’s sensibilities with Nilgiri ingredients sourced from TOHFA @tohfanilgiris , Aadhimalai @aadhimalai_appcl and other local producers. Hosting a collaboration of this scale in a hill town takes serious effort, and the evening carried that labour with grace in the historic spaces of Kings Cliff in Ooty @thelittlearth

Under 𝗡𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, three projects were presented for seed support:
• 𝗗𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗮: three traditional Toda houses, combining indigenous knowledge with carefully integrated contemporary techniques
• 𝗩𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗼: rewilding degraded landscapes through indigenous shola grasses and native species @upstream_ecology @vasanth_bosco
• 𝗡𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻: strengthening TOHFA to increase both production and local consumption of organic food grown in the district

Asking for financial support is never easy — and this was a new format for the Nilgiris — but many urgent projects cannot wait for distant funding cycles. We’re heartened that the room met the moment. These projects received seed support, and we will be tracking progress through 2026.

Full, unedited presentations are on our YouTube (link in bio) — shared openly, for anyone who wants the complete record.

Reel by @whoisthem.co
Shot by @dev.abishek
Edit by @sylesh.devarajan

#thenilgirisearthfestival #tnef2025 #chefstable #siennacalcutta #nilgiristories

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𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹

The final film in our short series on TNEF 2024 takes us to 𝙉𝙞𝙡𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙞 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨: 𝙍𝙚𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨, a chef’s table donor evening held at MindEscapes, Ketti.

This was a gathering of minds and hearts—friends, patrons, and well-wishers of the Nilgiris—coming together not just for a meal, but in solidarity for the land, its future, and the communities who call it home.

Curated for those who make this festival possible, the evening was a moment of reflection and reaffirmation: that The Nilgiris Earth Festival is not just a celebration, but part of a slow, steady movement to nurture, preserve, and support the Nilgiris in meaningful ways.

Chef Clive Fernandes brought the region’s landscapes to the table through a five-course menu that reimagined native ingredients—Toda buffalo milk, seasonal roots, and local organic produce—through a contemporary European lens. Every plate held a story of place, ancestry, and the relevance of local knowledge.

This film captures what is so much more than just a dinner, holding the essence of what it means to give back with intention.

Film by @dev.abishek @sujith.simon
Edit: @sylesh.devarajan @whoisthem.co
Venue: MindEscapes, Ketti

#thenilgirisearthfestival #nilgiriroots #chefstable #slowfood #mountaincuisine #locallysourced #indigenousingredients #todaingredients #mindescapesketti #slowdining #sustainablefood #communitygathering #supportingthehills

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On December 22, 2024, The Habba brought together the vibrant spirit of the Nilgiris at the Keystone Foundation in Kotagiri. Through conversations, performances, and traditions, it honoured the land and its people. Voices like C.K. Ganguly, Arshiya Bose, and G. Sundarrajan delved into urgent themes of climate activism, food sovereignty, and biodiversity, grounding the day in reflection and purpose.

A moment of profound resonance was the posthumous honouring of Janaki Amma, a Kurumba elder and barefoot ecologist, with the Nilgiris Earth Festival Award, presented by philanthropist and author, Rohini Nilekani. Her legacy, rooted in care and resilience, continues to inspire conservation and community strength.

The screening of “Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness” by Sandesh Kadur, followed by a thoughtful conversation with the filmmaker and Rohini Nilekani, was a highlight, offering rare insights into the region’s unparalleled biodiversity and the challenges of preserving it.

Now, as we share films from The Nilgiris Earth Festival, we invite you to rediscover these stories — reflections of the hills, the people, and the enduring spirit of this land. These films aren’t just memories; they are a call to cherish and protect what makes the Nilgiris extraordinary.

Film by the brilliant Dev Abhishek @dev.abishek @sylesh.devarajan and Aakash Selvan @thoduvanam

@whoisthem.co

#theNilgirisearthfestival #kotagiri #indigenouswisdom #mountainstories #biodiversitymatters #communityandecology #ecologicalheritage #keystonefoundation #nilgirisbiospherereserve #nilgiris #nilgiristories

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Thank you for this nice feature @homegrownvoices!

Cover design & illustrations Diya @threecats_design

#thenilgirisearthfestival #nilgiris #homegrownvoices #homegrown #festivalsofindia

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𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘀: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘀 & 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲𝘀

Two weeks ago, 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙡𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙨 made its way from one mountain range to another — from the verdant Nilgiris to the majestic Flatirons and surrounding mountains of Colorado.

I had the privilege of being part of an exceptional lineup of writers, including Pico Iyer, Anne Waldman, Namita Gokhale, Chigozie Obioma, and others at JLF Colorado @jlfinternational in beautiful Boulder.

Insights from the nine years spent working on #soulofthenilgiris were shared, highlighting the deep, living connections built with the indigenous communities of the Nilgiris, whose lives and traditions are inseparable from the land they call home. These relationships, rooted in reverence for the natural world, were the guiding force behind my work and the philosophy of the book, and continue to influence its journey.

My heartfelt thanks to Namita Gokhale @namitagokhale, Boli Medappa, and Sanjoy Roy for inviting me to be part of this event. The magnificent Boulder Public Library offered a warm, welcoming space where ideas truly took flight. Meeting writers who have deeply inspired me were moments I’ll always treasure.

It is deeply rewarding to witness Soul of the Nilgiris continue its journey, inspiring conversations about the critical role indigenous communities play in nurturing and safeguarding the landscapes that have shaped their stories for generations.

#jlfcolorado #jlf #acrossgenres #mountainstories #flatironstonilgiris

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Rooted in the Nilgiris and enriched by global perspectives, our journey has woven together local heritage and diverse influences.

From nurturing mindful living to honouring traditional artistry, each step has shaped our story. What started as a tiny seed is now blossoming into a vibrant tree that continues to give.

This could not have happened without the support of this community, our brilliant contributors and collaborators, the extraordinary indigenous artisans, and our small, dedicated team.

Thank you for being a part of our story. Celebrating two years of Coonoor&Co and looking forward to many more. ✨

Love,
ramya

Reel by wonderful Pranoy Biswas @pranoybiswas

#coonoorandco

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Each time you disappeared into the tussock grasses in our forest garden, I waited for you to emerge from an unexpected corner.

In the evenings, there was something especially magical as I watched you navigate the wild tussocks and shola trees, illuminated by mountain light that highlighted the glow of your coat and the greenery in an ethereal display. On one occasion, you went missing for over an hour—a terrifying ordeal in the wilderness—leaving me to fear that my world might unravel. Yet you emerged from the grasses, swift yet gentle, wearing your silly grin, your coat muddied, and wildflowers entwined in your fur, the perfect essence of the bright-eyed puppy we fell instantly in love with, at the shelter where I volunteered 13 years ago.

As I often stroked your silken ears, I marvelled at the softness you radiated—a vast, kind, and enveloping softness that seemed to define your ‘spirit soul’. It unfurled beyond your touch or gaze; it was inherent in how you interacted with the world around you (except with monkeys!), reminding me every so often to tread this world tenderly, graciously, oh so gently.

In the golden glow of the evening, you too transformed into glorious gold, reaffirming your belonging in that enchanting light. You’ve always chosen magical spots of luminosity to slip into, just as you chose how to reveal yourself in your own time. It’s a comfort to think of you there, my forever puppy, though I’ve yet to muster the courage to face that light without seeing your mane shimmer. Some say you’ll appear if I look hard enough, but I know the journey to reunite with you – wholly, in my heart, is one of love, grief, and patience, not laboured searching.

[…Continued in comments]

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We turned one a week ago.
What a year it has been!

We are so grateful for this beautiful community.
We promise you more beauty, serenity, thoughtfully curated content, stories, and lovingly made artisanal goods — all inspired by slow, gentle living, and the mountains we so love, in the time to come.

Thank you so much for your love and support ❤️
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Reel by @pranoybiswas
Creative Direction @ramyaredy @a_scent_journal
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#coonoorandco #reels #reelsindia #lifestyleblogger #lifestylephotography #reelitfeelit #reelsvideo #reelsinsta #storytelling #anniversary #sustainableliving #sustainablebrand

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After nearly two years of painstaking research and trials in partnership with the indigenous Toda women-artisans of the Nilgiris, we are pleased to present their magnificent GI-tagged, signature red & black embroidery - recast in a new light, thoughtfully contemporized, and created on fine, sustainable fabrics — for the first time ever.

Stay tuned. Our online store, with its very first bouquet of offerings, will be LIVE very shortly!
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#coonoorandco #coonoorandcoshop #storelaunch #indiantextiles #todaembroidery #indigenousart #textilerevival #nilgiris #indianhandembroidery #sustainableluxury #handmadetextiles #madeinindia #lifestylestore #handmadeluxury #indiantextiletradition #indigenousart #indigenouswomen #madebyartisans

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