India is a land of colours. None would dispute. The glass bangles in the picture are manufactured in Ferozabad. These glass bangles decorate the hands of Indian women. These simple and humble ornaments are worn by the poor and the rich. The unattractive yellow is reserved for the metal - gold. But the poor can't afford to buy gold. But these glass bangles have got a rich history in the Indian folk lore and plays a crucial role in tradition transfer.
Indian cinemas are with songs (that erupt to keep the audience's boredom under check) that celebrate women hood, motherhood and bridal celebration. Not only the heroes utilize these colorful glass rings to attract their fiancees, at times the bangle seller himself would become the bridegroom or lover. No seller demands money initially from the women who assemble ever... simply they would entice them by saying ... just wear them... who demands money from you.... and once worn.... what a beauty ... become more beautiful.. and many more joining and the seller may be seated there for over an hour or two and the sale is done.
I've observed the technique followed by the mobile bangle sellers and the pseudo- unwillingness displayed by the customers around the entire country are on similar pattern. For small kids the big box that opens up on removing the hooks is like a big wonder box and they would be standing there motionless as they have not seen such a rainbow of colors till then.
There is a grouse against these romance sellers as they get an opportunity to hold every hand of the women in the cluster of villages they roam. The young boys who happen to be the friends of such sellers would be longing for an opportunity and we do not know how the spouse of these bangle sellers treat them for they are 'hand in glove' with the profession.
Photo; wovensouls
Of course, every peddler allows his customers credit and normally none maintains a written document and relied on memory only. The womenfolk consider it inauspicious to cheat the bangle seller and normally the due is paid . The bangle sellers would act as news carriers too. These friends become members of the villagers family over a period pf time.
The story I picked up because there is a negative side to the whole business. The people who make these bangles are called 'bangle blowers' and they suffer immensely. Child labor is rampant and the producers suffer eternal poverty. Heat, use of chemicals, smoke, congested homes where these are made make bangle making a hazardous industry. Again money lenders collect exorbitant interest rate and the poor have got no cooperative societies to support them. The factories are to be modernized and smoke must not be allowed to choke the lives of the people. There is a sad story behind every bangle that giggles.
Photo: trkearth.com
Courtesy: AL JAZEERA/SHOWKAT SHAFI
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