At Work
Consider this a second
installment of my look at everyday sights in India, though I would
hesitate to characterize the work of some of these folk as
commonplace. Meet some people who were kind enough to allow me to
interrupt their day so that I could take their photos at work.Only the
photo of the snake-charmers cost me any rupees.
The Entertainers
 |
We spotted a
few snake-charmers here and there on our trip. These men were
photographed in Jaipur. I posed with them but resisted the offer
from the gentleman on the left to place the snake around my neck. |
| These
musicians and puppeteers were photographed at the Trident Hotel in
Jaipur. Their audience on this particular night consisted mostly
of Western tourists. |
 |
The Craftsmen
|
Down a narrow
alleyway in the Lad Bazaar area of Hyderabad, we discovered by accident
this shop where workers produce ornamental brass pots for a number of
larger shops. They were kind enough to let us watch them work and
to make a sale at a very reasonable price. |
| This photo
was taken at a carpet shop in Jaipur. This man has not flipped;
there really is a reason to blowtorch the carpet. It seals or
tightens the knots in the carpet. After it is torched, it is
brushed to remove any remnants of the burning. |
|
|
The craft for
which Agra is most famous is its inlaid marble. Frames, coasters,
dishes and other decorative items are popular. Perhaps most
beautiful are the marble tabletops decorated with a variety of stones,
some semi-precious. Many of the patterns are very intricate and a
feast for the eyes, even if a sharp blow to the wallet. |
| Here's a
craftsman of a different sort, the coffin-maker at St. Mary's Church in
Hyderabad. |
 |
The Merchants
| This photo
was taken at a general store in Hyderabad. The man in the photo
was measuring out spices for his customers. |
 |
 |
This jeweler
in Hyderabad is selling the bangles that are much sought after by brides. |
| Also in
Hyderabad. This shop specializes in women's clothing. |
|
 |
This man in
Agra is selling bed covers, table linens and other cloth items. |
Work at Home
The woman and
children above were photographed in a village near Panna National
Park. They are involved in food preparation. The children
are preparing chapattis, the flatbread that is a staple in the diets of
a large number of Indians.
The Saviors of the
Birds
The Jains, with
their ethic of ahimsa, place a high value on all forms of life.
One manifestation of this ethic is the Charity Birds Hospital in
Delhi. Pidgeons and other birds who have met with some mishap
(ceiling fans, cats, etc.) are brought here by concerned people.
The birds are nurtured back to health before they are released.
Occasional squirrels and rabbits are also brought here. Birds of
prey are treated, but on an outpatient basis only.
|
And last but
not least, it's the guys who deliver the mail. Hyderabad. |
© 1999. Jody
Taylor Watkins and Peter Watkins. Do not download or reprint
without permission. Email.
