Two weeks ago, Analise and I took a quick trip outside of Udaipur to visit some of our artisan partners working in other parts of Rajasthan. We wanted to connect with them, check in on some work being done and photograph the process of handloom fabric and basket making (spoiler alert!). Come along with us and enjoy a stroll in the Rajasthani countryside!
This is what we lovingly named "the marshmallow truck." A common sight along the dessert highways, we finally discovered they were full of dry hay. It's still a bit of a mystery how they navigate the roads without accident!
We hit the road at 5am. First stop, Aha Vastra, one of our handwoven fabric providers. 7.5 hours and one flat tire later, we pulled over in a lumber yard and were given a motorcycle ride the last kilometer of “kacha” road. In Hindi, “kacha” means raw, or in a more helpful translation: not a good road! Thankfully, though a bit of a rough ride, the motorcycles got us to their facility without another flat tire.
A little rest in a beautiful house nestled away in the lush green jungle, a watermelon snack and we were off to the looms! We enjoyed the full tour with our friend Sudhi who started the handloom initiative 20 years ago with her husband. These are just a few of the moments we captured while enjoying the rhythmic clacking of artisans and looms at work.
After a lunch of dal, okra, pumpkin (fresh from their garden!) and yogurt, we were on the road again, this time for 6 hours to our friends Mr. and Mrs. Sharma’s house outside of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. They live on a farm…in a house, that’s in a field with a line of acacia trees standing guard around the perimeter. The latest crop: sorghum and wheat. The view: the best.
Mr. Sharma has been working for years to rehabilitate the dying crafts of the surrounding villages. We are so excited about what he’s doing! We love that these artisans and their crafts are being given new life. As part of that initiative, we’re working with Mr. Sharma to bring beautiful handmade art from these villages to your home.
There’s a lot of exciting work ahead but on this trip, we got to check in with a family who’s matriarch has been weaving baskets from palm trees for over 25 years. As of now, she’s the last basketmaker in her village. For the past three months she’s been working on a little something special for us and we were so excited to see the finished product. We enjoyed a stroll in their family's field, met the newest water buffalo baby, and got to see the magic of basket weaving happen in person. With temperatures well over a hundred, keeping as much skin covered as possible was a must to avoid the instant burn.
Sharwani is a talented artisan and we loved capturing her in action.
After a spot of tea, we were off with Mr. Sharma to visit a nearby temple where a local hero was being honoured with the inauguration of a statue in his likeness. A little impromptu song and dance later and we found ourselves in a traffic jam, waiting for a local politician to have a small rally in the middle of the road.
Local ladies performing for us on the fly.
Never a dull moment. Hungry? No problem. We stopped and chatted with a local farmer, piling her produce on a tarp by the roadside. Before we knew it, green beans, squash and watermelon, all handpicked for us, were piled high in our baskets. She asked us to have a watermelon with her. Who could refuse?
Have you ever stood in the shade of a giant tree, just outside the blazing desert sun, and had a freshly picked watermelon with a hardworking Rajasthani farmer? There’s nothing like it!
The nose ring is an important part of a woman's jewellery. This one in particular was a statement piece!
We thanked her for her generosity and were off, making notes to wear a nose ring with such confidence one day. One great thing about living here in India is the diverse fashion trends that typically help you understand exactly what community a person identifies with.
The next day we were headed home to Udaipur, but not before a quick walk around the Sharma’s field, enjoying a fresh harvest of acacia sap. A safe (and beneficial!) tree sap to consume, acacia sap looks a lot like honey-tinted crystals, oozing out of the bark. Its flavourless, gelatinous character makes it a favorite add-in for locally made sweets and drinks. I personally like the flavor just the way it is!
With a car bursting at the seems with baskets, acacia sap, fresh vegetables and fruit, we set off for Udaipur. Thankful to live in such a beautiful place and with such beautiful people.
Bye for now!
Sarah
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