What I learned from the ash of bonfire in India

NomadHer
2 min readJan 17, 2022

How borders separate us, how language and culture are different, There are values that we can share. Olive Soreng tells her story of the last bonfire and what she learned about re-using ash. Do you have a similar story like this? here is her story.

Currently on holidays for Christmas and New Year’s in my hometown, Jharkhand, India. Having brought up in different countries, made me less knowledgeable about my own home. It is only through my mother’s stories that I’ve only heard about my roots. My father is now retired and my parents have settled in the hometown.

Ever since we returned to India, whenever my sister and I, visit home for the holidays, we make it a point to actually experience life as is and make do with whatever is available around us.

So what can you do with the leftover of last night’s bonfire?

Today morning, a day after Christmas, my mother made us strain the leftover. We separated the charcoal from the ash with the help of a strainer.

What I learned today will forever be imprinted in my memory — We used the Ash to sprinkle over the onion and garlic which we are currently growing in our little garden.

Why?

Ash is a good fertilizer. Among its other uses, especially in remote villages, it’s used to clean dishes, and some even clean their teeth. As for the leftover charcoal, well that’s going to be used again to make a bonfire to warm ourselves tonight.

Nothing is wasted.

Pretty interesting?!! Such knowledge can only be taught firsthand. Passed from one generation to another for survival or for simply to be connected to your roots.

Travel Travel Travel.

Solo or with the company. Let there be cultural exchanges.

Such knowledge and basic work should not be extinct. That’s my lesson from this morning.

More about NomadHer

NomadHer is an app for female globetrotters to encourage solo travelling safely. NomadHer has a vision of empowering women through travelling.
To join the community of female globetrotters, you can download NomadHer App on IOS & Android
Follow NomadHer on Instagram: @nomad_her

--

--

NomadHer

We Empower Women Through Travelling. NomadHer is the #1 app for female globetrotters, to encourage solo travelling safely.