Rajasthan

A recent trip to the picturesque and tourist-uberfriendly state of Rajasthan has me convinced the Rajasthan has me convinced that everybody is involved in a robust love affair. Very openly too. A love affair with ... colour. In blatant defiance of the dust-coloured, parched landscape of their motherland, they've painted one town pink and another blue. The Rajasthanis themselves are a colourful lot- attired in the most cheerful and brightest of hues. Swathed in red, magenta (among some twenty other colours) and bandhanis and shimmering with mirrors and a ton of silver jewellery, the women paint a merry picture indeed. The men are just two steps behind in the jewellery department.For the men the multi-hued turban and their perfectly groomed moustaches is their style statement. The turban is more than just a style statement though, different styles of wearing indicate class, profession and geography. Even the camels are well-turned out. Patterns adorn their faces, beads and tassles grace their necks and the seating on the camel's back is a mass of patterned fabric and mirrors. It's like the Rajasthanis have taken a serious offence to dry, lifeless landscape and have made sure that everything they make (food, jewellery,clothing, music and dance) is in every colour possible like defiant little children. The clash of colours against the dusty backdrop of the desert, the lilting notes of the sarangi and some robust folksy singing make Rajasthan postcard-photo material. The land of contrasts - scorching days and chilly nights, monotonous landscape and colourful people, inhospitable terrain and the most hospitable people in the world. Yes, I went back to my roots : ). And loved it there.