Weaving workshop

Block the date/s: At Vanvadi on Sunday, Feb 4

The multi-faceted creative genius, SUDARSHAN JUYAL will conduct a WEAVING WORKSHOP on a mini, home-scale loom. (3 such looms will be available for hands-on practice.) Those who would like to have more weaving practice the next day too, are welcome to stay overnight. On Feb 4 evening, we will also celebrate the mystical weaver-poet, Kabir, with a few hours of song and music!

For those staying overnight on Feb 4, the accommodation will be shared (dorm-style) at the community house. You can bring your own tent if you like. But please do carry your sleeping bag or adequate warm protection/blanket, as the winter nights are quite cold.

Vanvadi is a lush, 24 year old, collectively regenerated forest in the rolling Sahyadri foothills, about 100 km from Mumbai, going towards Pune. It is about 9-10 km from Neral station (of Matheran fame), on the Neral-Devpada-Vare road, and 3 km beyond Devpada village. Most of the Devpada auto drivers (parked between Neral rly stn and Neral bus stand) know our place well, and would charge Rs 250 for hiring the whole auto (10 passenger capacity) to get there.

In case you are driving from Mumbai or Pune, it is better to come via Karjat, cross the bridge over Ulhas river on your left, and after crossing, turn left again onto the road to Kashele (18 km). Continue about 9 km further beyond Kashele on the road leading to Vare, and take a left turn on a kutchha road (beside a hand-pump and a vada-pav stall), just before Vare village. Then drive about 1 km till you see on your right the Vanvadi sign painted on a large, wheel-shaped rock. This is the vehicular entry. It is about 80 metres beyond another Vanvadi sign over a small, old grill gate, which leads only to a narrow walking trail. (Those visiting Vanvadi for the first time are advised to take the wider path just beside the sign on the large, wheel-shaped rock, as the path to our community house from here is shorter, and more clearly defined.)