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Cooking was still done the old fashioned way: in the open yard, on the ground, and with firewood.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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The men of the village entertained us that night. There were ten of them. Some played the local musical instruments, goat skin drum (noubat), big drum (negara), and brass bells (namira). Some sang and danced. We sat in a circle around a fire in the middle.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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inkta119

Then they asked us to join them in the dance...

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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inkta114

... while their children lined up inside.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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inkta116

Vehicles which were creatively jerry-rigged from parts of old cars (juvars) served as a means of transportation.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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inkta118

One man began chanting a song and then all others joined as a chorus, the musicians with their musical instruments. Soon two men started a dance.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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Then they asked us to join them in the dance and in playing the big drum.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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Village kids on bicycles returning from school followed us.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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We visited a house, thatched and built with hard mud.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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inkta109

... and others on carts driven by camels.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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inkta111

More of them were waiting to see us on the sidewalks of the village.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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At a more substantial house with plastered walls, the women were waiting for us outside....

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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Some of us chose to ride there on camels.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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inkta105

The villagers of Abha Nagari exercised their entrepreneurship by leasing some of their land to a group of five young men who established a camp there for visitors like us. Furthermore, the villagers put on quite a show for us. We were welcomed to the camp by a reception line of several men, women, and children.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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inkta107

A man wrapped the local headdress of turban around our head.

Photo essay: Folklore in India’s villages

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