When I talk about my village, I don’t feel like I am writing an article. It feels like I am just talking from my heart. My village is called Ayal Paidulsyu, in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. Whenever I close my eyes, I can still see the mountains, the fields, the small houses, and the people. For me, this place is not only a village. It is like my soul. Wherever I go, city or anywhere, my mind always goes back there.
THE PLACE AND NATURE
Ayal Paidulsyu is not a big place. It’s small, simple, but it has a beauty that is hard to explain. In the morning, you hear birds singing before the sun comes out. The smell of wet soil after rain is something I can never forget. Winters are cold, very cold. Sometimes we cannot even touch the water, it feels like ice. In summer, it is not hot like the plains. You can walk around without feeling tired. The monsoon, oh, it makes everything green. You can see small streams running, kids playing near them, and the air feels so fresh.
The hills around the village are full of pine and oak trees. Sometimes, when the wind blows, you can hear the sound of the leaves. I used to lie down in the grass and just listen. That sound was better than any music.
PEOPLE AND TRADITION
The people in my village are very simple. They don’t run after money too much. Life is slow here. People help each other, laugh together, share food, and stand together in good or bad times. Festivals are the best time. Everyone forgets problems and celebrates together.
Like, we celebrate Harela, when we sow seeds for new crops. Makar Sankranti is special, kids get sweets like til laddoo, and we make ghughutiya, those little bird-shaped sweets. Diwali, Holi, everything feels different in the village. No loud DJs, no expensive lights, just people dancing, singing folk songs, and enjoying.
But the most special time is 7th June. That is the day of our Maa Chamunda Devi Mandir jagran. The whole night people stay awake, singing bhajans, beating dhol and damau. Old and young, everyone comes. You don’t even feel sleepy because the energy is so strong. And then on 8th June, we have bhandara. Big feast for everyone. No matter who you are, everyone eats together, sitting in one line. That day, it feels like we are not just a village, we are one family.
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
When I think about my childhood in Ayal Paidulsyu, I smile without even knowing. We used to run in the fields, climb trees, steal fruits, fall down, and get scolded by elders. But even those scoldings had love. After farming work, elders used to sit and tell us stories. Ghost stories, stories of gods, old legends. At night, lying under the open sky and counting stars, those are memories I will never forget.
I had so many friends in the village. We played gilli danda, kabaddi, hide and seek. Sometimes we fought, but after 10 minutes we were again together. That bond of friendship in the village is something I don’t see in cities. In cities, people don’t even know their neighbors. But in our village, everyone knows everyone.
FOOD IN THE VILLAGE
Food in my village is simple but very tasty. We eat what we grow. Mandua ki roti with ghee is my favorite. Sometimes with bhang ki chutney, it feels like heaven. Kafuli, chainsoo, phaanu, all these dishes are part of our daily life. During festivals, sweets like arsa, gulgula, and jhangora ki kheer are made. I still remember stealing hot gulgula from the kitchen when elders were not watching.
Milk, curd, ghee, everything is fresh, because almost every family has cows or buffaloes. We don’t buy from shops, we make at home. Maybe that’s why village people are strong and healthy.
STRUGGLE AND CHALLENGES
Of course, life in the village is not always easy. Many families have left because of lack of jobs. Some houses are locked, empty, waiting for people to return. Roads are not always good, hospitals are far, internet doesn’t always work. During emergencies, it can be very difficult. Farming is hard, and not enough for everyone. That’s why many youths go to cities for work.
Still, people who stay never give up. They wake up early, go to fields, take care of cattle, and live with dignity. Life may be tough, but it is honest.
MY FEELINGS
Whenever I visit my village now, I feel peace. I feel like I can breathe properly. The air, the water, the silence of the night — these things you can never get in the city. My heart feels full when I see kids running in the same fields where I once played.
Ayal Paidulsyu is not just my birthplace. It is my teacher. It taught me simplicity, respect, togetherness, and the meaning of real happiness. Whenever I eat mandua roti, whenever I hear a folk song, or whenever I see mountains, I feel connected.
I know my village has problems. But I also know it has a strong soul. If we can bring some development — better roads, schools, hospitals — while keeping our culture alive, it can become an example for others. Tourism can also grow, because people from outside would love to see this pure way of life, the natural beauty, and the traditions.
So yes, my village Ayal Paidulsyu is everything to me. It is not just a name on the map, it is a part of who I am. From the sound of birds in the morning to the jagran night of Chamunda Devi Mandir, from playing with friends in the fields to eating together in the bhandara, every moment is special.
Whenever I am away, I miss it. And whenever I am there, I feel complete. For me, no city, no luxury, can replace the peace and love I find in my village.
