Okunevo! An Indian village! Where? Yes, it does exist. India is known for its rich culture and traditions. But a country makes its name only because of the people and the experiences one can get from a particular country.
Life takes us to places to travel and explore. Immerse self into the local communities, sharing lives, learning about different things.
People come to India, especially after hearing stories of joy and happiness, and they find what they haven’t found elsewhere. People take back some fond memories, learn new things, grasp religious beliefs, and adapt them into their lives, too, from Yoga to food to learning how to live life’s relationships. A pure form of love, care, and peace, they experience here.
We live in a world where we are born in our spaces, and to explore, we travel. Life brings us new experiences and happiness in different forms. Some lifestyles we adopt, and some we learn from childhood. Each day, we tend to become happy by creating a space for ourselves in our houses or cities where we live.
As we know, India has diverse religions, cultures, and traditions. People from other countries get deeply inspired and motivated to adapt it in their daily lives. There are several million people who travel to India from across the world. They also try to build a small India in their houses, cities, or country, too. Here are all the people who love, miss India, or have adopted the Indian ways, visit, and even live here.
Let me take you right across the oceans and countries to Russia. The coldest village in Siberia. It is known as the Indian Village. Like, wow, seriously. It’s called Okuneva.
You will have to look for a district named Muromtsevsky District in Omsk Oblast. It’s a tiny Indian settlement that lies deep inside the wilderness of Siberia. It’s supposed to be the coldest Indian village, too.
People of Okuneva have some locals who are in love with India and have built this space up. They sing bhajans, organise events, follow traditional food traditions, and try to wear indian clothes. In the cold weather, too, they gather here and cheer India.
Many are believers of Lord Krishna, and they have also built a temple here.
Okuneva was founded and built in 1991. A person called Rasama visited this place, who is also a fond follower of the Hindu religion. She believes that this spot is an ancient Vedic place of lord hanuman. The village itself and the energy here are very spiritual and peaceful. The aura here is so peaceful that one can just enter and notice the positive.
The divinity is serene here. Imagine being in an ice-cold, snow-capped town and hearing some indian temple bells can make you feel so tranquil.
There also goes the sound of the rivers near it, named Tara, which is also the name of an Indian Goddess. Also, the region’s name has Om, which makes it all the more sound like a Holy village.
Here, it also has a ritual spot called Omkar, where people gather to practise spiritualism. Even Christians come here.
At OMKAR, you will find Hindu altars too and some statues of Hindu deities that you can pray to. In 1995, Omkar Shivdham Ashram was registered.
There are 400 residents here, but the population changes with the season. The cool part is that people here are divided into two types: spiritual seekers and residents.
In winter, definitely, many don’t stay here. In the summer, the population comes back to normal.
Here, the residents have their own beautiful garden and grow vegetation.
Cattle are also their favourite in their house area.
Many residents have sold their houses to spiritual seekers and moved to other spaces, too.
Okuneva A is worth visiting
Everyone who comes to the ashram here comes to perform different duties and experience the solace and peace. To understand oneself and life through these spiritual paths in the midst of their daily routines. They believe in living a simple life and practising karmayog. They also practise yoga meditation and work in gardens. Keeping the village clean and also creating mythological art. Their favourite festival is Navratri, which they celebrate with great joy for 9 nights.
How to reach Oukuneva
Take a flight from any major city like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru or Kolkata and reach Omsk Tsentralny Airport (OMS). From here, take local buses to Okuneva. You can also hop into a taxi. Also, get your visas cleared.
