The story behind story cåmala

Growing up in a land thousands of years in the making, there are traditions and ways of life that go beyond the horizon of memories. Born of lush paddy fields, cold Himalayan rivers, vast fertile plains, and arid deserts. Festival after exuberant festival. Balancing lighting of delicate lamps with rowdy bottle rockets. The sublime ceremony of rice boiling over to the thrill of kite battles. Genteel colors on white kurtas to the mischief of bhang. A pyramid of people reaching for a pot of butter in the sky. Threads that bind. The remover of obstacles battling his way through streets filled with revelers. Making time for the goddess of time. The original burning man if you will. These are the memories that sparkle. What part of these simple joys will you experience with your children?


I am Gayatri, a mom, a Californian, an American, an Indian. Like many others of my generation, I find myself at a confluence. A modern life filled with deadlines, sports drop-offs, volunteering - rewarding and deeply satisfying to be sure. And a life left behind. Even as I embrace the best of my adopted home's ways of life, there is an ingrained culture and set of values that I'd like to pass on to my child. Values I myself inherited from my mother Komala and my grandmother Kamala. This as it turns out is as challenging as it should be. For one, the Koamalas are inexhaustible wellsprings of energy. Every day with unerring certainty they would bring people together with warmth and compassion. A helping hand, a sympathetic ear. Culinary delights were pressed into service to support the cause. In spite of life's many trials, they exemplified grace and resilience fighting for their family. They are the luminous stars guiding my path. I hope to live up to their entrepreneurial spirit and life of service in my own way. On the account of cultural literacy, the stuff that is best absorbed through the ether. If the mountain cannot come to Mahomet, consider recreating a semblance of said mountain.


Story Cåmala is dedicated to curating and bringing meaningful cultural experiences and artifacts to wherever in the world we call home. We invest in preserving traditional materials, ingredients, crafts, and craftsmanship that are of significant cultural value. Enriching the lives of artisans and making it worth their while to pass on their legacy. Story Cåmala pledges to donate 5% of profits to social programs that benefit the lives of underserved communities.


We hope your visit today brings the culture, the memories and the values you cherish into your consciousness. We hope you will pause for a moment and smile.