An Object, A Story and Eco Feminism - Joymala an Assamese folktale, Soul Story Mandala Marc 2024
Update: You can watch a telling of this story on the Federation of Asian Storytellers Story Spotlight 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_THJaxcxaY&t=1s ~~~ This is a story of Serendipity- of finding something valuable by chance! Recently at CSF 2025 (Chennai Storytelling Festival), I shared a folktale from Assam, an eco - feminist retelling of Joymala - The Elephant Queen - As I delved into the story many images stayed with me, the woman - nature bonding and even her passivity until she is pushed to the brink...literally! There was a word that became the fulcrum of the story - Jhari - and I went on an adventure trying to find out what it means. Some authors had interpreted it as silk threads (Tamil origin perhaps), while others called it a vessel used for worship. I caught this thread and saw images online of bronze/ silver vessel used in Newari culture and worship.... In the folktale, A Golden Jhari is carried by Joymala into the kingdom of elephants, a...


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