STREET VIEW FROM A ROYAL WINDOW

Hindi

(It’s a looking mirror and this art is known as Mirror Engraving)

In this panting the artist have shown a view of a street from the window of a palace where, we can see , group of Banjaras are passing and the mountains and trees engraved along with the banjaras really make this painting beautiful and alive. Banjara or Khanabadosh(nomadioc people) is that community of people who do not stay at one place infact they spend their life by traveling from one place to another. Banjaras do not have any permanent address or permanent residence. They spent their whole life in roaming. They do not have any personal attachment with particular place. They do not stay over one place. From their early times this community travels far throughout the country. Banjaras are famous for their certain things like dance, music, rangoli(colorfull art), tattooing, drawing etc. Banjara community mainly depends on animals like cattles which include buffalos, cows, sheeps, goats etc. Most of the Banjaras make temporary house and stay in them keeping all their daily need items in them. They keep traveling the whole day and at the time of sunset they put on their tents and cook food and spend their night at that place. In cities they can be seen on roadside or in open ground areas. Some times for two or three days and some times even for weeks they stay like this. Bullockcart and many animals with them to carry their loads. These banjara people spend their whole life this. Mostly women of this community stays at home and men go out to work for money and then they move ahead towards their next stage. Normally Banjara men put turban on their head. They wear shirt or Jhabba and dhoti. They have Narmukhi Kara(bracelet) and Murkiya ( type of earrings) in their ears. Mostly they have a long and thick sticks in their hands. Women of Banjara community wear Dohara which is the symbol of their Suhag(husband). In hands they wear special types of bangles known as Chura, nath (nose pin or nose ring) in their nose, silver earpins or earrings, they wear special type of neckless known as Khangala, anklet in their legs, rings in their leg’s fingurees, kamarbandh on their waist, and many more. Some ladies wear Gaghra(type of long skirt) and wear lughri with it. Old ladies wear Kanchali(type of blouse). Mostly Banjaras use bullockcarts to carry their loads from one place to other they are known as Lakkhi Banjaras. Many songs have been also sung on Banjaras in movies and even today they on the lips of many people. Many movies have been also picturised on their lifestyle. It is also said that Banjaras keep their wealth digging the ground at the place where they live as a savings for future. Banjaras of Chattisgarh pray ‘Banjara Devi’ which is said to be their Mother Goddess. They also pray all Gods of Hindu Religion. In this painting we are seeing from the window of a Royal Palace a view where Banjara tribe is passing on the street.