Narendra Singh and his capability to make serviettes into magical birds flowers and objects D'art.

Narendra Singh who comes from village BARWASI from rural background suddenly took to creating very beautiful designs from the serviettes while laying the table.He can make different kinds of flowers,birds,boats and abstract designs.

His hearing is impaired and so communication with him is by gestures or a smile.If you are interested to learn this talent from him you can have free classes while at "DERA MANDAWA".

Ramlal bhopa our resident musician learns to play a new instrument and delights the guests by beautifully echoing bell sounds. He was like a child with a new toy!

During my trip to KUTCH with Australian guests in 2011 I found a metal worker and bell smith Luhar Husen Sidhik at village NIRONA. He is a metal worker and a bell smith. He had a made a strange instrument out of bells which are made and meant for animals-rams, cows or bulls!.On instruction of a bollywood music director he had fixed the bells on a wooden frame. It had a most charming sound although not exactly or correctly to the music scale. The bells are struck with a wooden mallet. We thought this new instrument must be given a name. Between me and my Kutchi guide Parveen Dangera we decided the name must connect with the run of Kutch. Thus immerged a new appropriate name.

A new musical instrument MEKAN DI MEHAR…. In Hindi and Urdu. MEHAR KHARKIYUN…. IN KUTCHI

As per Wikipedia ... Saint Mekan Dada (1666-1729 AD) was the famous Kapdi Saint of Kutch. He spent his whole life in Rann of Kutch, looking after survivors and people lost in desert and serving them food, water and shelter. His two partners were "Laliyo", the Donkey and "Motiyo", the dog. He would load "Laliyo"-donkey with water and food and the "Motiyo" was trained by him to direct the "Laliyo" to travelers lost in great desert of Kutch. Thus they would provide water, food and direction to the hungry, thirsty and lost travelers and nomads passing through the Rann of Kutch [1]. He was also a good poet and composed several hymns based on the Hindu philosophy. Today he is worshipped as the re-incarnation of Lakshman by the Ahir community.

The sounds of the bells remind us of "Saint Maken Dada",his dog "Motiyo" and donkey "Laliyo" and the spirit of service.