Discovering Shrimp Farming in Andhra Pradesh

On June 12, 2026June 14, 2026 By jaganmayanandLeave a comment

This summer holiday, my father decided to take us to visit one of his college friends who lives in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh. He told me that his friend helps farmers who do shrimp and fish farming. I was very excited about this trip.

We started our journey in the morning and reached Machilipatnam by afternoon. Machilipatnam has a beautiful beach (Manginapudi Beach), so we decided to stay there for one night and travel to Bhimavaram the next day. My father and I both love beaches. We enjoy the waves, the sand, and the fresh sea breeze. I had taken a small basket to collect seashells, but unfortunately it got washed away by the sea. Even then, we had a wonderful time at the beach.

The next day, we travelled to Bhimavaram and reached my father’s friend’s house around 6:30 PM. We met his family. He has two daughters, Devika and Sanvi. Sanvi and I played together. Later, Uncle took us to a nearby park where we enjoyed many activities. It had been a long day, and I fell asleep as soon as I had my dinner.

The next morning, Uncle and my father were ready by 8 o’clock. My father woke me up and packed a tiffin box for me. Aunty had prepared delicious idlis and pea curry. First, we visited Uncle’s warehouse where he stores shrimp and fish feed, medicines, and supplements. He explained some of the products and how farmers use them. Uncle had started this business only a few months ago, but he already knew many farmers because he had worked in a similar field before.

After loading some feed and supplements into his car, we started visiting farms. As we drove through the city, my father showed me many shops that sold feed, farming equipment, accessories, and laboratory testing services. Everything seemed connected to shrimp farming. Uncle told us that a large part of Bhimavaram’s economy depends on shrimp farming and related businesses. Many people have earned a good income by exporting shrimp and fish.

As we moved out of the city, I could see greenery everywhere. Coconut trees lined the roads, and there were ponds all around where shrimp farming was taking place. Near every pond was a small hut where the caretaker stayed to look after the farm. Around these huts, I saw cows, goats, chickens, ducks, dogs, and other animals.

We stopped at one of the farms. The caretaker was about to feed the shrimp. My father asked if we could go into the pond on a small boat. After speaking with the caretaker, Uncle got permission for us. Normally, visitors are not allowed inside because farmers want to avoid contamination, but they made an exception because they saw how excited I was.

My father and I got into a small metal boat along with the caretaker. He carried a bag of feed and used a rope to move the boat around the pond. At several marked locations, he threw feed into the water. Then he pulled up a net tray from beneath the pond and placed some feed inside it before lowering it again. My father asked why he was doing this. The caretaker explained that the trays help farmers check whether the shrimp are feeding properly. When they return later, they inspect the trays. If the feed is gone, the shrimp are eating well. If feed remains, it may indicate a problem. There were about ten such feeding points around the pond.

Whenever the caretaker lifted a tray, I could see many shrimp inside it. He even allowed me to hold one. I carefully picked up a shrimp, but suddenly it jumped in my hand. It felt like a small electric shock, and I immediately dropped it. I shouted in surprise. My father laughed and explained that the shrimp was simply trying to escape. The caretaker also laughed at my reaction.

After feeding was finished, we returned to the hut. There were goats, chickens, roosters, cows, and several baby goats. I could not resist holding the baby goats. Their mother kept making noises and did not want me to come near them. My father helped me hold one of the baby goat carefully. It very small and adorable.

Next, we visited the cowshed. One cow started walking towards me, and I became frightened. A farm worker quickly came and held her. He explained that the farm owner’s daughter, who is about my age, often plays with the cow. The cow may have thought I was her. My father gently patted the cow, and she tried to lick his hand. He told me that animals can sense kindness and often respond with affection.

The farm also had some very large roosters. Uncle told us that these roosters are sold for high prices because they are used in traditional cockfighting events during certain festivals. I remembered seeing pictures of cockfights at our hotel in Machilipatnam.

By then, I was hungry. When I opened my tiffin box, a small puppy came near me. I shared some idli with the puppy, and we enjoyed our breakfast together. While we were there, Uncle received a call from a farmer who was facing a problem at his pond. We immediately drove to the farm. Uncle inspected the pond and spent some time finding the cause of the issue. After checking everything, he explained that the ammonia level in the water had increased. He suggested the right treatment and advised the farmer on what product to use. Since Uncle had the required material in his warehouse, he asked the farmer to collect it later that day. I realized that Uncle was not just selling products. He was helping farmers solve problems and protect their livelihoods. He was a trusted guide for many farmers in the area.

Later, we returned to Uncle’s house. Aunty brought a ripe papaya from her garden, and we all enjoyed eating it together. It was very sweet and delicious. Before leaving, both families took some photographs together.

This visit taught me that different regions of India have different types of farming based on the resources available there. I also learned how important people like Naresh Uncle are. They support farmers, help solve their problems, and play an important role in making farming successful. I was amazed to see the large shrimp ponds, the feeding process, and the many animals living around the farms. I also learned that farming is not easy and requires a lot of knowledge, patience, and care. This trip was both fun and educational, and it gave me a new respect for farmers and the people who help them. I will always remember my exciting visit to the shrimp farms of Bhimavaram.

Dancing with My Superhero Papa

On May 21, 2026May 27, 2026 By jaganmayanandLeave a comment

Every year we celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi in our apartment. The celebration goes on for 7 to 9 days. All the families in our apartment come together every evening for puja. After the puja, we usually have cultural programs and fun games. Last year, my Papa and I decided to give a dance performance together. We took a long time to choose the song. We listened to many Bollywood, Tollywood, and even Hollywood songs. Finally, we decided to perform a folk dance from Odisha called Sambalpuri dance. The song we chose was the famous Sambalpuri song “Rangabati Rangabati.” My Papa told me that this song was popular even when he was a school-going boy.

We listened to the song many times. Since I could not understand Sambalpuri language, my father explained some of the meanings to me. But more than the meaning, I loved the beats and music. Whenever the song played, I just wanted to dance. We started practicing 10 days before our performance. Every evening we practiced for 30 minutes in front of our TV. Some dance steps were difficult for me, so my Papa taught me some easy and fun steps.

When my father visited my grandparents’ house few days back, he brought my grandmother’s Sambalpuri saree for me. The saree was around 30 to 40 years old, but it still looked so beautiful. Sambalpuri sarees are World famous. The cloth is soft, colorful, and very pretty. I loved the bright colors and beautiful patterns made by the talented weavers. My father also bought Sambalpuri cloth for himself and stitched a nice shirt from it. We knew that with our Sambalpuri song and Sambalpuri dress, we were going to rock the stage!

On the evening of the performance, my mother helped me with my makeup. My father took a Lady palm plant leaf from the garden and carefully cut that to decorate my hair. It gave me a tribal look. After getting ready, we went downstairs, and everyone was surprised to see us in our beautiful traditional dress. They never expected us to perform like this. Everyone clapped when we went onto the stage.

Then the music started, and so did our dance. We tried our best and enjoyed every moment. Sometimes I forgot my steps, and my Papa quietly showed me what to do next. I danced with all my heart, and so did my Papa. I have never seen the fathers of my friends dancing on stage like this. But my Papa is my superhero. He can do anything. He told me that dancing with me on stage was one of his dreams, and this was the perfect occasion for it.

After our performance, all my friends came to me and told me how well I danced and how pretty I looked. All the uncles and aunties appreciated both me and my Papa. It was such a proud and happy moment for us.

This became one of the most wonderful memories for our family. My mother recorded our dance video, and sometimes we still watch it together on our TV and feel very happy.

The Day We Climbed Deomali Hills:

On May 18, 2026May 18, 2026 By jaganmayanand1 Comment

We visited Deomali, the highest mountain in Odisha, during my Dussehra vacation last year. After a long drive from Nabarangpur, we reached the Deomali hills at around 3 PM. The roads were very narrow, and we travelled through winding serpentine hill roads to reach there.

Even though it was a sunny day, it became quite cold when we reached the base of the mountain. I quickly put on my earmuffs because we were going to climb the mountain. We saw many tourists coming down from the top. They all looked very tired, but at the same time very happy.My father packed a few water bottles into his backpack and said, “Let’s start immediately, otherwise it will get late.” My mother looked at the mountain with some fear and astonishment. Maybe she was not feeling very confident about the trek. But I pulled my mother along and encouraged her for this exciting mountain adventure.

My father was shocked to see how eagerly I was climbing the mountain. I was much faster than my parents. My father had injured his leg one year earlier, but he was still very determined to climb the mountain.

We met many visitors on the way. Some people were climbing up while others were coming down. Many were taking pictures, some were enjoying snacks, and some were sitting and talking while taking a break.

The mountain had many uneven rocks and stones, so it was not easy to climb straight up. Sometimes we had to change our path to make the climb easier, but we also had to make sure we were not going the wrong way. At times, I walked so fast that my parents became far behind me, and I could not see anyone ahead of me. So I had to slow down or go back to join them.

We came across many huge rocks, and some of the small stones rolled down whenever we stepped on them. So we had to be very careful to avoid accidents. I could imagine how dangerous it would become during the rainy season. It might even become impossible to climb.

Sometimes I felt scared when I looked down and realized how high we had climbed.

When we reached the middle of the mountain, my mother became very tired and frightened. Her legs were hurting badly, and she slowly lost confidence about reaching the top. She said, “I cannot walk anymore.” By that time, we had already completed almost 80% of the climb. We could see a red flag at the top of the mountain, and people reaching there were shouting loudly with excitement.

My father and I were also very excited to reach the top. But after seeing my mother’s condition, we decided to stop and take some rest. My father gently massaged her legs, but she was still in pain.My mother told both of us to continue climbing while she waited there. But we did not feel safe leaving her alone. So after resting for some time, we finally decided to return down the mountain together.

Climbing down was also not easy because the tiny pebbles and stones rolled down whenever we stepped on them. My father held my hand because I was moving too fast. He warned me that I might lose control and fall if I did not slow down.

While climbing up, we were slow. But while climbing down, we were much faster — maybe because of Earth’s gravity!

Finally, we safely reached the base of the mountain, where our cab driver was waiting for us. The driver asked whether we had reached the top. My father jokingly replied, “We were the only people who reached the top!” We all laughed loudly.

Even though we could not actually reach the top, we still enjoyed the trek very much. We loved the greenery, the magnificent hills, the floating clouds, and the beautiful blue sky. Visiting Deomali became an unforgettable memory for our family. If I ever get another chance, I will surely visit again — and next time, I will definitely reach the top of the mountain.

Secrets Under the Microscope

On May 17, 2026May 17, 2026 By jaganmayanandLeave a comment

One day, my father gave me a surprise. He showed me a small device and told me that we could see many different organisms that are invisible to our naked eyes. It was a very small device that I could hold in my palm. He told me that he had purchased it from Amazon. The device was called the Carson MicroFlip 100x-250x LED Lighted Pocket Microscope.

My father went to the balcony and collected a pinhead-sized amount of soil from a flower pot and added it to a drop of water. He mixed it gently with a brush and then took a small stroke of the mixture onto a cover slip. He inverted the cover slip onto a glass slide and placed it under the microscope. He turned on the microscope and connected his smartphone to it. Now we could see the magnified image directly on the phone screen. We could even take pictures and record videos using the phone. I was amazed to see different kinds of organisms moving here and there in that tiny drop of water—organisms that we could never see with our naked eyes. Some were sliding, while others were gliding. We called our mother, and she also looked at them. She said, “That is why we should never touch dirty water.”

The Hidden Microorganisms in Garden Soil

Then my father pulled a few hairs from his head and placed them on a glass slide under the microscope. We were very curious to see how hair looked under magnification. Under the microscope, the hairs looked like huge pipes, and the base of the hair, called the hair follicle, looked like the base of a coconut tree. Overall, it felt as if I was looking at bamboo trees growing out from a bush.

A Closer Look at Hair and Hair Follicles

Next, my father brought a hibiscus flower and wanted to show me how pollen grains looked under the microscope. He gently dusted the pollen grains—the tiny yellow grain-like structures at the tip of the flower—onto the glass slide using a brush. OMG! What I saw under the microscope looked like deadly viruses shown in toothpaste advertisements. My father explained that pollen grains have many different structures and that they vary from plant to plant. He said that the spike-like structures on this pollen help it attach to the stigma, which helps in pollination.

I really enjoyed exploring a completely different world through the microscope. There are so many organisms around us that we cannot see with our eyes. Many things that look very simple to us are actually far more complex and beautiful when viewed under a microscope. It made me realize that there is an entire hidden world all around us waiting to be discovered.

A special trip to my Grandfather’s agricultural land in Indravati

On October 10, 2025 By jaganmayanand2 Comments

I went to Indravati during my Dussehra vacation this year. This is the place where my father spent his childhood. We went there to explore this beautiful place together. My father took us to a small piece of land that my grandfather had purchased beside the Indravati River many decades ago. My father often tells me how he spent a lot of time there enjoying nature and helping with the agricultural work during weekends and holidays.

The nearest town to Indravati is Nowrangpur. We reached Nowrangpur in the evening on 26th September. The next morning, on 27th September, we started our journey to Indravati at 9:00 AM. On the way, we stopped for breakfast at a roadside stall around 9:30 AM. It was very crowded, so I ate my breakfast inside the car. Even though it was a small roadside stall, the food was really delicious! My father said, “Whenever you see a crowd at a food stall, it means the food there is good.”

We reached my grandfather’s land by 10:30 AM. As soon as I got down from the car, my father pointed to a small creeper and said, “If you touch this plant, it will fold its leaves inward and droop. In Odia, it is called Lajakuli lata.” I smiled and told my father, “This is the Touch-Me-Not plant! I studied about it in my GK class last year.” The creeper was growing all along the roadside, and I really enjoyed playing with it.

Bhoomi playing with ‘Touch me not’ plant

When I entered the farm, I saw greenery everywhere. In the middle of the rice field, I noticed a scarecrow, and I was very excited to take a photo with it. Siva uncle (the tenant farmer) told my father that he made it using his old torn clothes. He also said that when the wind blows, the scarecrow waves its hands. I thought that must look very scary! It can easily scare children like me.

The Siva uncle’s wife took me around the farm and showed me different plants. I saw mango trees, banana trees, lychee plants, turmeric plants, jackfruit trees, bamboo, teak, and cashew trees. My father told me, “These big trees were planted by my father. It is his hard work that we are enjoying the fruits today.”

Siba’s wife showing Bhoomi different plants

Then Siva uncle showed me the Mancha — a bamboo hut raised above the ground. It is used as a temporary shed for resting. My father said that sitting on the Mancha and gazing at the lush green rice fields was one of his favorite pastimes when he was a child. We all sat there for a while, enjoying the view and the gentle breeze.

Entire family enjoying the grreenery from Mancha

Next, my father took me to a kaccha house near the Mancha. It was made of mud and polished with cow dung. Many small agricultural tools were stored inside. My father and Siva uncle plucked some pomelo fruits for us, and my father also harvested a whole bunch of bananas from the field.

Bhoomi’s father showing the fresh Pomelo fruit

Then came a big surprise! Siva uncle had brought a swing for me. He tied it to one of the branches of the mango tree. Soon, my mother and I began swinging together. We went up and down, laughing and enjoying every moment of the ride.

After some time, Siva uncle invited us to his home, which was on the other side of the river. As the water level was low, my father carried me on his shoulders, and we crossed the river to reach his village, Kastiguda. Siva uncle’s home was a small kaccha house, but it was very beautiful inside. He lives in a joint family with his father, two sons, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren. Since it was festival time, we gave them new clothes, sweets, chocolates, and toys for the kids. They, in return, offered us some fruits and local sweets.

In the backyard, I saw a mother hen with her tiny chicks grazing together. I asked my father to get the chicks for me. My father and Siba uncle’s son helped catch them, and soon I was holding them in my hands. I played with them happily, but they started chirping loudly, calling for their mother. The hen was watching me from a distance. When I went near to return the chicks, the mother hen suddenly jumped and pecked my leg with her beak! I got scared, but everyone laughed. My father smiled and said, “This is normal for any mother. They are always very protective of their children.”

Later, my father showed me a hand pump in front of Siva uncle’s house. I had never seen one before because we live in a big city. He showed me how to pump water. It was a bit hard for me, but I still managed to get some water out. It was such great fun!

What I Learned

This trip to Indravati was one of the most special journeys of my life. I learned how beautiful and peaceful village life can be. I saw how farmers work hard to grow food and take care of nature. I also understood how much love and care people in villages share with each other.

It made me feel proud of my father and grandfather, and grateful for the beautiful memories they have given me. I will always remember this trip and hope to visit Indravati again soon!

The Curious World of Bhoomi

Tag: family