How Maldharis find freshwater using ancient knowledge in arid Banni

Maldhari pastoralist communities in Kachchh, Gujarat, locate freshwater in one of India's hottest and most saline landscapes by digging shallow wells called virdas beneath seasonal pond beds, using intimate, multigenerational knowledge passed down through their pastoral practice.

The system faces pressure from unpredictable rainfall, rising temperatures, invasive species spread, and declining traditional practices; some communities continue to maintain virdas despite these challenges.