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ID
# kalbeliya79
Copyright
2002 - Jean-Philippe
Soule
www.jpsviewfinder.com & www.nativeplanet.org
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Country:
India
/ Village: Pushkar
Ethnic Group: Kalbeliya /
Feature:
Music
& Dance
"...they wore stones and silver rings on all fingers,
and their hands were covered with geometrical patterned tattoos."
excerpt from J-Philippe's story
"Queens of the Rajasthan Desert".
The Kalbeliya Gypsy people are known as the snake charmer caste. The
women are skilled dancers and are accompanied by men playing percussion
and wind instruments. The Kalbeliya were once hired to entertain great
kings and maharajahs. Today they are sadly considered to be squatters
and experience much discrimination. They struggle to preserve their
culture and dances. They follow Indian fairs and festivals hoping to get
hired to perform dances in hotels and private resorts.
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