SayCheese

Taken on 30 April 2009 in Chennai.

The Banjaras are gypsies who originated in the north west of India. Romani people, an ethnic group with origins in South Asia, are widely dispersed with their largest concentrated populations in Europe, especially Central and Eastern Europe. They also migrated into Central India. Lambadas are what they are called in Hyderabad.

They are fortune-tellers and in Europe they are known to be petty thieves who live on the outskirts of a town. I have read so many stories,including Enid Blyton, where they are depicted very negatively.

Waiting in the car for purchases to be delivered, I photographed these beauties through the wind shield. The girl in the red block printed chunni came up to me and asked me if I had clicked her. I was expecting trouble but she asked me for a print! They also wanted me to take a snap of them. I  happily obliged.