A group of children were playing and a young girl was making rotis on a wooden chulla as our car came to a stop besides a cluster of kaccha pucca houses of the Wadha community in Nirona, Kutch. Under a neem tree, a lean man sat working on a simple machine carving a piece of wood. He first smoothened the surface and then began to add both design and colour using bits of coloured lac. Lac is a resin that is extracted from insects and trees. The colour is added by mixing iron oxide or pigments to it.
| Decorating a wooden belan |
Sitting there watching him transform that piece of wood into a beautiful and delicate belan, the whole process seemed like child’s play, but the truth is far from it. Seven generations of this family have been practicing this craft, each perfecting it. Originally from Pakistan, apart from the meager income that wood carving brings in, the Wadhas also collect honey and herbs.
| Camels, horses or giraffes? Beautiful nevertheless! |
Just as the belan was almost ready, I turned around and saw that I was surrounded by women and girls displaying their beautiful wares. They themselves were dressed in colourful gorgeous clothes but it was their eyes that were most captivating!
Not a word was spoken, no one urged me to buy this or that. They just sat there patiently and let me take my time. I felt like a queen!
My heart went out to these lovely, simple village folk. They could give up this craft and move to more lucrative professions, but this is the way of life they have always known.
17 Comments
eileeninmd
October 19, 2015 at 10:45 amI love the crafts, pretty animals. The ladies are lovely. Beautiful images. Have a happy week ahead!
Sumandebray
October 20, 2015 at 5:25 pmInteresting read. We need to take the city to the villages so the folks don't feel the urge to lose their tradition, identity and finally themselves in the crowd of city dwellers.
Chaitali Patel
October 21, 2015 at 12:11 pmThanks Eileen!
Chaitali Patel
October 21, 2015 at 12:12 pmTrue. They need access to better medical facilities and education, not so called factory jobs that underpay and overwork them. Also taking their craft and making it more applicable in today's context will help keep them going for years to come.
Leena Walawalkar
October 23, 2015 at 8:52 amThose pictures are amazing…I felt like the women want to talk to me
Good post Chaitali!
Chaitali Patel
October 23, 2015 at 5:07 pmThanks Leena! That's a very nice compliment!
Mridula
October 23, 2015 at 5:14 pmWhat an enchanting encounter that you sought out!
D.Nambiar
October 26, 2015 at 5:44 amNice colourful attires. I'm sure their wares are also very colourful.
Really nice portraits, Chaitali.
Indrani
October 26, 2015 at 5:19 pmNever knew this community!
I am sure many in India don't know about them.
They look so simple. Nice post Chaitali.
Chaitali Patel
October 27, 2015 at 2:51 pmIt really was Mridula! I can't wait to go back!
Chaitali Patel
October 27, 2015 at 2:52 pmThanks so much!
Chaitali Patel
October 27, 2015 at 2:52 pmThanks Indrani!
POTPOURRIOFMYLIFE !
November 1, 2015 at 5:03 pmHi!! I have nominated your blog for Liebster Award , do check on my blog https://potpourriofmylife.wordpress.com/2015/11/01/liebster-my-first-blog-award-d/
Chaitali Patel
November 3, 2015 at 12:23 pmGee thanks! Never been nominated before so thank you for doing that!
Arun Prasadh
November 4, 2015 at 1:30 amNice to know about them. Lovely captures.
Swati & Sam
November 4, 2015 at 4:36 pmSad that without any financial aid many artistic skills are dying in this country …
Amazing portrait and definitely an experience:)
Alok singhal
November 28, 2015 at 1:50 pmThose eyes indeed speak a lot…my heart goes out too, for they seem to be living a very tough life !