Today we left early to learn about the art of bangle making. In India, bangles are given to the bride as a dowry and decorated with stones and gems to match the wedding sari. These bangles can be beautiful works of art and the bride can wear up to 25 of various sizes on each arm. The material for the bangle can be Gold, Silver, resin and/or plastic. The status and income will depict the material used.
The bangle maker is a retired school principal. He has been very busy as it is the wedding season. He works with a 2 foot piece of resin that is heated so it is pliable. He dabs coloured melted resin along the first stick of resin. He can add one colour or multiple colours. The stick is then heated over charcoal until it slowly is pliable and elongated in shape. Once the desired thickness is achieved, that piece of resin is slowly rolled, banged, and shaped into a round circle. The bangle is then slid down onto a wooden pole that gets larger in circumference according to who the bangle is for. From that point the bangles can be decorated to suit one’s taste.
Bangle maker
Next stop was the local market. This part of Shaphura is Muslim and we were met with stares and few Namastes. The women traditionally only leave the home to go to market. Many wear a head covering and then cover their entire heads with draped cloth so that only their eyes are visible. It is not the same as a hijab. There are many reasons for this. The cloth protects their heads from the beating sun. The scarf also is used as a filter to breath as the pollution and dust make it difficult to breath. Some also do this as part of their belief.
After lunch we drove 2 hours to Jaipur which is know as the pink city. Red sandstone is seen throughout the city. The palace is located within the center of the city with 4 gates coming off each side of the centre. Latticed walls and grids surround the entire palace so anyone from within can look out upon the street but will not be visible from below. Jaipur is quite pretty in spots and is famous for the amber fort. We will be taking an elephant ride tomorrow up hill to reach the fort.
We received instructions on how to cross the lanes of traffic, look ahead and just calmly walk. Everyone and everything will go around. At one point in our travels we came to a roundabout. If you can picture all matter of transport verging into the centre and then going any way they wish from that point. Our driver says it may be hard to understand but it works here in India. We have seen many close calls but no accidents - organized chaos.
We are learning much about the culture of India and what works for this country according to their countrymen and what does not. It is not our place to judge what is better but only to listen with respect.
Old-fashioned Transport
A Summer Home