Rabari woman carrying object on head, Anjar, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Members of the Rabari tribe are found living throughout Gujarat and south Rajasthan. The story of their origin has it that their men, instead of marrying women, married celestial apsaras, the daughters of the gods. Because of this they were called "the goers out of the path" or Rabari. Rabari means outsiders. This is because of their occupation. Rabari's main business use to be raising cattle, Like camel, goat and cow. These cattle need lots of space for barns. They cannot live in a town and have room for their cattle. They started living on the outskirts of towns beyond for this necessity. They gave name to such community Dhani. Dhani means Basati (community). As it was out side the main community. So the name became Rabari for these people. Traditionally they are camel herders, and were once a nomadic people. These days the Rabari can be said to be semi-nomadic. They live in small hamlets of round huts with mud walls and thatched roofs. The women manage the hamlets and are shrewd and intelligent. They sell wool and clarified butter to city merchants and manage all money matters. The women are strong, tall and well built. The Rabari men can often be seen roaming the countryside with their droves. They travel hundreds of miles on annual migration routes in search of new pastures to graze their animals. The Rabari women are easily distinguished by their long, black headscarves, which fall loosely to the ground. They wear distinctive heavy brass earrings which hang low, stretching the earlobes. They tattoo magical symbols onto their necks, breasts and arms. Their jewelry is modest in comparison to other tribal women. They wear small gold nose ring and silver and gold chains around the neck on which protective amulets are hung. Few simple glass bracelets adorn their arms. Girls can be married from as young as 15-months old. All Rabari marriages take place on the same day once a year and can be very extravagant event involving polygamist rites.
Size: 5040px × 3360px
Location: Anjar, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Photo credit: © philipjbigg / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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