Just a Sip
A village on the edge of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert.
A woman from this family had just delivered a baby. Can we assume it was a boy? Because the menfolk are busy celebrating by sipping opium from the host’s hand. Was he the father? I didn’t ask. I was too busy trying to get a shot of these guys drinking the opium. Look at the expression on the boy sitting on the left. He’s thinking, “That is disgusting!”
The use of opium is traditional in these regions. This region of India abuts Pakistan which abuts Afghanistan and Iran and you have heard of the opium crop in those countries. The men in this gathering did not seem overcome by the drug. They were alert and able to have a conversation with me (via my interpreter). I asked them if the drug made them sleepy and tired. “No.” was the reply. It made them strong.
My guide had told me that ‘serving’ of opium was traditional at weddings, etc. I think he thought I’d be shocked. I wasn’t, because I didn’t believe him until I saw this with my own eyes.
The opium was prepared by placing it in a cloth and steeping it in water.Then the cloth was wrung out and the liquid caught in a silver bowl. A small amount would be poured into the host’s hand and he would welcome each man (no women take opium) by extending his hand to their mouth so they could drink.