Rabari
Gujarat, India 2009
A Rabari nomad sips tea from a silver saucer. He wears ear rings, necklaces, rings and bracelets. His hand has typical Rabari tattoos. He looks rather like a maharaja with his fuchsia turban. You wouldn’t think that in a few moments, he’d pick up a hatchet and stride out of the village to spend the day watching over his goats.
Note: He isn’t wearing nail polish. The red stain on his fingernails is from henna. In Morocco, a bridegroom’s hands are hennaed. It is thought to bring good luck. Perhaps henna confers good luck in India as well. I didn’t ask.