About Joyatri

I've finally figured out how to combine my love for animals, travel, and beautiful things. I travel to India, buy handicrafts from artisans and nonprofit organizations, and sell them (the handicrafts, not the artisans) in the U.S. I then give my profits to animal welfare organizations in the U.S. and India.

How did all this come about?

After leaving a 15-year career in which I traveled to Europe all the time for my job, and didn't give a thought to any other part of the world, I discovered India.

I became fascinated with all different aspects of South Asian culture, and embarked on a "self-study" culminating in a two-month trip in India. Since then I have been back a several times.

The exquisite craftsmanship of the textiles, and other crafts, of India, made me want to bring back and sell items that I had not seen offered in the U.S. before. So, I started doing that.

Before my trip in 2004, I decided to find out what was being done to help the plight of animals in India. On previous trips I had been disturbed by the proliferation and ill treatment of street dogs, in particular. So, I decided to visit animal sanctuaries, meet animal welfare activists and, in general, educate myself about animal welfare in India.

After being unemployed or under-employed for a long time, I got a job two years ago. I have now chosen to make my handicraft-selling venture more of a hobby, and give profits to animal welfare organizations in India, where my meager donations can make a greater impact than here in the U.S. However, since Hurricane Katrina, I have learned that there are grave problems in this country as well, and used the profits to increase the amount I had been giving U.S. animal welfare organizations.

Vegetarianism and me

I have been a vegetarian since I was 13 years old. Once I became aware of where meat comes from, eating animals was as repulsive to me as eating other humans is for others. As of July 2006, I have been mostly vegan.

Photo: Contented dog resting on temple steps, Jodhpur, India