Sunday, March 8, 2009

Puppets and Color/Mandawa/India



The landscape of Rajasthan is rather beige, light brown and dusty green - but the colors of the flowers, fabrics and decorations are a vivid contrast.
Here an awning over the lunch table at a stop on the roadside.


Puppets are a great part of the entertainment here. 
They often feature the king and queen - and a snake. Here is the queen.

A real Indian and two pretend ones.


The king and queen wait for purchasers in a haveli in Manawa.



So many puppets and decorations to buy in the magic courtyard.

24 comments:

  1. What fun! and so very interesting!

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  2. Dearest Elizabeth,
    Twice today I have enlarged photos of yours from India. I am without words over the last photo in this series! And thank you for the enormity of it! Earlier today - the one of the paintings along the top of a porch-like area, a woman sitting there, a bike on the ground, clothes hanging - when enlarged it was as if I walked right into the scene!!! Just wonderful. Thank you so much. I hope you are having a sensory overload!!! (And I think you are.)
    Happy travels,
    Catherine
    P.S. word verification = critic

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  3. Yes, when your pictures are enlarged the result is magical. At first I worried about the aging of one of the buildings but a close up reveals that recent concrete, supportive repairs had been done. That's how good your photographs are when it comes to recording detail.

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  4. Stunning photos, wonderful colours, and I agree with Catherine, the last photo is magical.

    Polly
    x

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  5. oh my! what a riot of rich colour! love it...and those flowers...how purple are they?? so uplifting..THANK-YOU!!! xxx j

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  6. The magic courtyard reminds me of marrakesh. It all looks so amazing. Thanks for taking us with you!

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  7. I love the colors.

    Paz

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  8. Beautiful photographs. Thank you so much.

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  9. I've always had a thing for puppets and these are so wonderful and exotic! You are getting some fabulous shots, Elizabeth. This is so much fun!

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  10. True magic!

    How many suitcases full of lovely treasures did you bring home?

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  11. P.S.:
    I am leaving for Rome on Wednesday.
    Any locations you'd like me to try to capture for you? (I am going to be right around the corner from Campo de' Fiori).

    I would love to one day visit India. For now, it is not possible. I am happy, though, being able to visit Italy often. After all, it is home to me.

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  12. Such an amazing experience you are having .. and sharing ...

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  13. The colors, so much like the color of the exotic spices!

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  14. Oh my- I am on overload! Your trip has been so wonderful with you behind the magic lens! AWESOME indeed! Thank you so much!

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  15. I went totally berserk over the puppets in India. Aren't they wonderful! Fantastic shots.

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  16. I have two of those type of puppets, a woman and a man, bought at different times and in different places who were just made for each other. I wonder if that is where they are from and if they are a King and Queen. That courtyard is just lovely, I want to be there not here! Love all the other photos in your last two posts, especially the cow gate.

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  17. I love all of those colourful puppets! Sounds like quite an adventure you are having. Thanks so much for sharing some of the wonderful sights :)

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  18. just spectacular...the contrast between the beautiful old architecture and the bright puppets....I thank you!!

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  19. Caught up in the magic of Rajasthan I can almost sense the memories these pictures promise.

    Lovely pictures these.

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  20. LOVE these colors!!! :-)

    (Word: outdomme. Haha!)

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  21. I like the one of the king and queen huddling together -- and conspiring! (They probably want to relocate to NYC -- like so many other ambitious entertainers!)

    There is something about that last picture -- all faded grandeur, with the strangeness of the bright puppets. Lovely stuff, E.

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  22. Witty words, and beautiful photographs so full of vivid colors and bright light.

    I am adding my notion of what the sound track might sound like.

    It will be great fun to catch up with you upon your return.

    xo

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  23. Maybe the vibrant colour was produced BECAUSE OF the muted colours in the scenery.

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I look forward to hearing from you!