Description
This young girl from the arid and water-scarce region of the Thar Desert is balancing two containers on her head. At the bottom of her head is a large, ribbed tin can. Placed on top of this is a traditional, shiny vessel made of brass or bronze. Such vessels (often referred to in India as a lota or ghara) are traditionally used to carry and keep water fresh. To distribute the weight and protect the head, a small, ring-shaped fabric pad (known as a chumbal or indhoni) is usually placed directly on the hair beneath the containers. Balancing the load on the head keeps the hands free and allows for an upright posture, but requires extreme dexterity and strong neck and back muscles from a very young age. – Lathi – 1990
