You’ll have to forgive me for making this blog post extremely photo-heavy. I hope you have time to enjoy these images. We visited the cattle / animal market today (a weekly market attracting tribe members from hamlets all around), as well as the vegetable market. I am completely overwhelmed by the people and their manner of dress and ornamentation. Don’t just skim through these faces. Stop to study them, noticing the tattoos, the jewelry, the style of headdress, the facial hair, etc. We’ll start with a collection of men and animals, and then move on to the women. No need for me to add a lot of commentary – just reflect on the stories told in these faces and know that as exotic as they seem to us, they share the same stories with us on many levels. We are all one family.
One way of bringing goats to market.Here’s another way to get the goats there.Tribal man at the Chhota Udaipur weekly market.In many tribes, boys receive a bracelet like this when they get engaged to be married.Tribal man at the Chhota Udaipur weekly market.I can’t resist snuggling an adorable lamb. I know you’re thinking “Mary” had a little lamb…Tribal man at the Chhota Udaipur weekly market.Tribal man at the Chhota Udaipur weekly market.Tribal man at the Chhota Udaipur weekly market.Example of the loincloths all the men used to wear, but which they now cover with another wrap. We had to sweet talk this man into showing us his.Nah – we don’t stand out at all, do we? You can see why people flock to see us and get photos with us.I suppose the pretty decorations might help to move cattle?I guess I might be more favorably disposed to buy Bessie if she is decked out in colorful fake flowers.Tribal men at the Chhota Udaipur weekly market. Those colors on the man with the orange turban really work with his skin tones!There is just a lot going on in this photo, and it is the general feeling everywhere you look at the animal market. So much to take in!Tribal man at the Chhota Udaipur weekly market.The younger generation is leaving behind most of the tribal attire. You can’t come here too soon if you want to experience the old traditions.I share some Masala Chai with a man my age at the market tea shop.We move on from the men now and turn our gaze (ahem – turn your gaze) to the lovely ladies at the weekly market in Chhota Udaipur.Tribal woman at the weekly market in Chhota Udaipur.Tribal women at the weekly market in Chhota Udaipur.Tribal woman at the weekly market in Chhota Udaipur.Tribal woman at the weekly market in Chhota Udaipur.Tribal woman at the weekly market in Chhota Udaipur.Tribal woman at the weekly market in Chhota Udaipur.Tribal woman at the weekly market in Chhota Udaipur.Tribal women at the weekly market in Chhota Udaipur.Tribal women at the weekly market in Chhota Udaipur.Dazzling colors are great, but sometimes understated elegance works best to distinguish yourself from all the rest.We move from the market to the tribal museum.Images of tribal festivities.More images of tribal festivities. Here you get a better look at the old loincloths that used to be worn by all the men.From the museum we move on to an area in the forest where people place terra cotta figures / pots to honor their dead.Terracotta cats honoring deceased ancestors.Pottery at the terracotta memorial grounds.Returning to the hotel we pass a wedding celebration in full swing with loud music and dancing in the streets.The groom is on his way to the temple for a blessing, and is being attended by his sister.Child with kohl eyeliner at the wedding ceremony.Another child with kohl eyeliner inside the temple where the groom is receiving a blessing before the marriage.An autistic young man befriends me at the wedding ceremony. He cannot speak, but he communicates beautifully using his hands, and his wonderful smile.
