2013 – I was in Pushkar, Rajasthan with a photography club to shoot the famous camel fair which is an annual affair. My first impression was that there are more photographers than camel 😉
At the opening ceremony of the festivities, I was all set to watch a performance of the traditional Kalbelia dance – Kalbelia are the tribals of Rajasthan and perform an extremely dextrous dance form which involves flexing and contorting the body in unbelievable poses. They wear gorgeous jewellery and garb which distinguishes them from rest of Rajasthan! It’s also known as the sapera or the snake charmer’s dance and is characterised by sensuous dance movements, involving some acrobatic ones too.
You can read more about this dance here
I spied the dancers from afar in their vividly coloured dance attire and moved forward to catch a better glimpse and take some photographs.
I was in for a shock!!!
These were not Kalbelia women or even Rajasthani women but Japanese ladies, each so gorgeous and looking dapper in the ethnic get up. The bodla (or the forehead ornament) looked so right on them, along with the odhni ( fabric draped over the head) and the traditional skirt or the Ghaghra with its wide circumference which looks gorgeous when the dancer twirls.!!! I was surprised to see them balance the metal urns on their heads and caper so gracefully.
I got talking to the leader of their troupe and it conspired that they have an Indian manager who got them over from Japan, arranged for the dance training and then booked them at gigs in hotels, etc to perform all over India and even abroad. (I prayed that he was taking care of the girls and that they were not being exploited in anyways)
Well! I was blown away not just by their beauty but also by how coolly they managed the Indian wear and moved in it too. They agreed to allow me to shoot their closeups and my camera loved their mesmerizing frolics.
The best was yet to come! Once they started dancing, I couldn’t take my eyes off them – they were spinning in gay abandon and looked to be enjoying themselves thoroughly. I tried to get as many good shots as I could manage of them gyrating to the drum beats. It’s challenging for me (as an Indian) to pick up these dance moves and here were these women from a foreign land who had mastered this demanding dance form with such repose and supinity.
And when they started doing the onerous backward dips, my jaw dropped even further and I am lucky the camera didn’t – for a moment I forgot to click and just watched them in stunned appreciation as they declined lower and lower. Their happy faces were a testament to how much they were loving it. Their sense of rhythm and acrobatic flexibility was unmistakable.
This is one of the most astounding sight that I have come across in my travels in India. Who could have imagined Japanese women conquering a formidable dance form like the Kalbeliya and rollicking to it in the hot sands of Pushkar? Not me for sure!
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
― Marcel Proust
What did you think of this? Have you ever seen the traditional Kalbeliya being performed?
Killer K is coming up – so stay tuned
For the uninitiated, AtoZ challenge is a blogging challenge wherein one has to write on every alphabet from A to Z and post on all days of April, except Sundays. Usually its better to devise a theme as it makes it easy to write the posts. Plus readers have a reason to stay hooked too.
The A to Z Challenge is created by Arlee Bird of Tossing it Out
and co-hosted by
Alex J. Cavanaugh of Alex J. Cavanaugh
Jeremy Hawkins of Hollywood Nuts
Heather M. Gardner of The Waiting is the Hardest Part
Zalka Csenge Virág of The Multicolored Diary
John Holton of The Sound of One Hand Typing
J Lenni Dorner of Blog of J. Lenni Dorner
You can hop over to read my other posts of my travels to some more unique and exotic destinations in Rajasthan, India here:
- You have got mail in Udaipur
- Colours of devotion in Udaipur
- Majestic Kumbhalgarh Fort in Udaipur
- Wish upon the stars in Jaisalmer
- RavanaHatha in Pushkar
- Leather that weathers in Pushkar
- Pushkar – a foodie haven!
- Bodyart in Bikaner
- Stopover at Rawla Narlai
- April fool- the open air art gallery in Shekhawati
Linking up for #wordsante with Namysaysso for every post deserves some love
I am in love with your lovely travel stories buddy and the even lovelier clicks. I have been to Pushkar with mom dad in childhood and have fond memories of the place❤
Thank you so much Roma!!! 🙂
This is amazing…beyond belief
Ha ha Thanks Pooja – you are echoing my sentiments when I witnessed this scenario!! 🙂
What great photos! Thank you for visiting my blog. I’m glad to have met another Jordan fan too!
Jordan
Thanks so much Julie – I Think I discovered your blog a tad bit late but shall go through the posts as and when time allows! 🙂
Happy Atoz!!
That is a very rare thing. A combination of two diverse cultures. Must have been an awesome experience!
The pictures are very beautiful
Thanks for sharing
Cheers
Thanks Karnika- that was my thought too! Later I came to know Nikon arranged for them to be transported to the dunes where they held a workshop for their students who spent an awesome time clicking these beauties!!! 😉
Wow, beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.
My A-Z post The Genealogy Search Continues:
J is for Jewish Genealogy
Thanks so much Debbie 🙂
Oh wow… They look fabulous… Is there a video somewhere that I can watch. This is a great idea and I am sure it must have attracted quite a crowd
I think I was the one most enamoured by them Raj… I wish I had shot a video too. 🙂
Great looking photos and I wish there was a video too for us to see. But your words gave us a good idea about the dance and the atmosphere. Lovely read in the morning.
Celebrating ‘Women & their work’ all April:INSPIRATIONAL INDIAN WOMAN: ACID ATTACK SURVIVOR LAXMI
Thanks so much Namy, I wish I had shot a video too. 🙂
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
― Marcel Proust
This I feel is the essence of travel.Such a beautiful story of Japanese women dancing Indian dance forms and earning Too!Great story
Thanks so much Amzee 🙂
This is beautiful and very, very commendable that they were able to do it. I too wish there was a video.
Thanks Naba. I wish I was into clicking videos 4 yrs back… 😉
Woaaah! This is out rightly unbelievable. There is so much to be discovered if we open our eyes and look for the magic!
What a spectacular sight this would have been.
Lovely photos as always.
Natasha
natashamusing
Travel Epiphanies:
Jant to Fairyland
Thanks love. I look forward to your opinion everyday. 🙂
Unbelievable! I got a shock too when I discovered the Japanese part of your Rajasthani folk dance. Honestly you do seem to have unique experiences on common trips.
I know Sunita . It was a shock for me too. Thank you for loving my journeys…. 🙂
It seems nothing less than the masterpiece! I like the way you have captured their moves and it looks fabulous!
Cheers
Oh thanks Geeta. I love hearing such positive comments and so much love 🙂
Your pictures and words took me to Pushkar. Thank you. The dancers look stunning. Do you ever jostle with the idea of clicking or just watching? Just curious to know.
J is for JOYN
Thanks Arti. I actually love doing both 🙂
how interesting. It is fairly common for people in their own country to learn and perform foreign dances, but I wonder what gave them the idea to perform the foreign dance in the foreign nation
I guess someone saw an opportunity to make some money outta this as the Japanese ladies would really draw crowds n curiosity in india. 😉
wow! what an unexpected and wonderful treat 🙂 for us readers, your AtoZ is turning into a real journey!
Hey thanks for that awesome comment Ish 🙂
What a find! You must have enjoyed this thoroughly. Their costume and their dancing is so authentic you barely notice that they’re Japanese
Yeah Kalpanaa I also forgot after watching them gyrate. 🙂
Wow! Japanese dancers doing kalbeliya dance. That’s amazing. Guess what, I am just 140 kms away from Pushkar and I have never been to this camel fair!! Your pics have piqued my interest and I hope to check it out sometimes soon.
I have roamed almost all of rajasthan. I am basically from jaipur n just love this state for all its colour n fervour. I hope you do visit once… 🙂
That is Wow! I am so glad that you got to experience something as unique as this. It would have been great watching the Japanese women do Rajasthani dance moves. I can only imagine! Those are some fab shots, Shalini.
Thanks Shalzz. I had a ball shooting this. 🙂
Wow, Japanese dancers in Pushkar . Reminds of the Keishas . If you like dance you might like J is for Jaunty dance books
http://theglobaldig.blogspot.com/2017/04/j-is-for-jaunty-dance-books.html
Thanks Carl 🙂 I will stop by your blog too.
These women look gorgeous. From your post I can understand how much you enjoyed their dancing! Amazing amalgam of two nations:)
Thanks Radhika 🙂 yeah they were just amazing.
this is so fresh, had no clue! Keep rolling 🙂
Thanks a tonne Z 🙂
Your photos are beautiful. You’ve captured the energy and dance abandon.
Thank you so much, that feels good to hear 🙂
Very cool and quite different. Your words conveyed your excitement and pleasure very well. It sounds very impressive.
Thanks so much 🙂
The pictures are stunning! I have watched a Kalbeliya performance, but could never imagine this. The talent and the hard-work is admirable!
Thanks a tonne for liking myvpics- these girls just looked so stunning yaar. I hardly had to do anything at all 😉
Thanks a tonne for liking my pics- these girls just looked so stunning yaar. I hardly had to do anything at all 😉
Wow! This is interesting. Beautiful pictures. Loved your blog.
Oh thanks Neha – this feels so good to hear 🙂
Isn’t it amazing that people from other countries embrace your culture so beautifully!
Shubhangi @ The Little Princess
Yeah it sure is Shubhangi. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I agree. I thought I had a pretty good idea of the various permutations and combinations related to our dances and the folks involved. Did not expect to see Japanese women dancing to this though!
I know Roshan- this was so totally unexpected for me too!!! Though I loved it immensly!!!
Hahaha! Yeah… Pushkar fair has become more about cameras than camels lately! 😀
And those Japanese girls looked gorgeous! And so right-at-home in our Rajasthani attire, as if they were born doing this! Who could have ever imagined, right?
Amazing! Thanks for sharing these pics!
Happy AtoZing!
Chicky @ http://www.mysteriouskaddu.com
Yeah Kaddu that has become the reality of the camel fair at Pushkar- was my first impression when I went there too.
But this made up for everything else – I totally loved this dance and meeting these women was simply awesome!
What joy they seem to put into their dancing. I can feel it, even through your pictures.
Thanks a tonne Jacqui – thats a pretty neat thing to say 🙂
They look gorgeous in Indian attire! Amazed to hear of Japanese kalbelias, Great photos!
Nilanjana
Thanks Nilanjana- yeah they look absolutely stunning 🙂 !!!!
They look beautiful. Thanks for sharing lovely pictures and a very interesting post.
Thanks so much Suzy- feels so good to hear that!! 🙂
Totally in love in your lovely pictures….Didn’t expect Japanese girls to be dancing in the Pushkar festival..Unbelievable?
*Menaka Bharathi *
*SimpleIndianMom*
Thanks Menaka- it was a complete shocker for me too 🙂
Hehe more photographers, than camels the photos are gorgeous Shalini, Nd it is so much fun reading about your travel stories. You really are a bery widely travelled person. Btw why are the real Kalbeliya women not part of these programs?
Oh thank you so much Smita- thats such a gorgeous compliment! You made my day 🙂
My goodness! Those costumes are so colorful and gorgeous! What a treat for the eyes!
Vanessa @Vanessence
My “theme” – A Thirty-Word Story, revealing one word of the story each day of the challenge.
#AtoZChallenge The Letter K
Such beautiful pictures. You’ve had some amazing adventures.
Joseph’s Star – Heartbroken
What beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing. Happy Easter! M is for Marketing Methods as you Build a Better Blog. #AtoZchallenge.
That’s absolutely stunning! Let alone Japanese women….I cannot even think of any other person from any nationality could perform that act other than one who hails from Rajasthan!
Yes Keerthi that is my thought too and thats why I was just stunned at their know how of the dance and how well they performed it too!!
Indeed!
This is so beautiful, I’d love to see this.
Thanks so much and I hope you do get the travel opportunity to visit this gorgeous Indian state and see all that it offers.