Banjaras are an ancient nomadic people from the Indian states of Rajasthan, North-West Gujarat, and Western Madhya Pradesh Haryana, and Punjab regions in India. Also known as Lambanis or Lambadis, recent genetic sequencing has shown that these groups migrated from Asia to Europe in about 512 CE and became the Romani or Romany.
Women are known for their colourful and beautiful costumes and have tattoos on their arms and hands. Women wear thick bangles on their arms previously made of ivory or bone, nowadays more often of plastic. Heavy braided silver jewellery is also favoured.
Women’s dress varies according to marital status, as does their ornamentation. The extremely elaborate nature of the embroidered textiles worn by the women comprises pieces of mirror, decorative beads, coins and sea-shells stitched on a mainly red material
Banjara arts include dance and music, textile embroidery, tattooing and fortune telling.
I encountered a group of Bhanjaras sheltering with their camel herd by the roadside near Ahmedabad, capital city of Gujarat. Their eye-catching apparel and sun weathered skin attracted me. I sought and received permission to photograph the whole group, of which I painted these two women. Banjara women are particularly shy and reluctant to be photographed individually.
Original: Oil on canvas, 12 x 16″ (305 x 410mm) ; framed
Limited Edition Print : Available as Giclee print on finest quality paper or canvas. International shipment
Sizes available: 8 x 12″(203 x 305 mm); 12 x 16″(305 x 410mm); 18 x 24″(457 x 610 mm); 24 x 32″ (610 x 813mm)
For list of prices, details of paper or canvas and pigments used, please get in touch via contact form
Will post rolled up in a tube with Certificate of Authenticity, number of the print and artist’s signature.
