Our album of pictures from Kanker, more than 80 of them, can be seen through the following link:
Slept pretty well and Rose at circa 6 o’clock.
Light breakfast and away just after 830.
Hit a big traffic jam on the road through Keshkal Ghat.
Jolly was a bit worried we might miss the tribe, being market day. But we probably only lost less than one hour in the process.
Picked up Munna And headed off to a Bhigawn para village – A deer horn Muria tribe. We visited the ghotul…
…then the school (penless, not forewarned) but played games with the children…
…and supervised their lunch.
Then we went to see the ghotul folk doing their dance – which they do at lunchtime on market day. Amazing stuff – superb drumming and skilful dancing – especially the stilts dance.
Before the dancing, a short welcome ceremony.
After the dancing, we had a boozy farewell ceremony, drinking the local spirit Mahua Drink made from Mahua seed.
Two home visits before departure, one scheduled…
…and one to the home of the village and joker who was very insistent.
Went on to take a picnic by side of road and then on to market…
…pretty photogenic – 22 local villages congregate each Thursday at the Bhigawn market.
After the market we returned to the Kanker Palace for the evening.
Reviewed photos on terrace after being shown many of Roberts photos. By a surprisingly friendly Robert. Mosquitoville, that terrace at that hour. Then washed and dressed the evening.
First up was an early evening entertainment on the erstwhile badminton court. The gathering included Michael and John, Swiss one nighter-bikers Tommy and Mona. Robert the German photographer and our cast of hosts and staff.
Robert tells us the tale of Panit Patel and sounds off generally about fake tribal dancing, which to be fair, this certainly was.
Jolly explained that he was trying to give some work to a troop of down on their luck dancers and that Westerners who hadn’t seen real tribal dances enjoy these entertainments. Perhaps only the Swiss pair fell into that category and even they might have seen the real thing, but they were perhaps more polite than others.
Robert then stated that the thing is to stay seated looking interested. He really hates it if the dancers ask the audience to join in and next up, Daisy is dancing wildly with the dancers and I also join in. Robert refuses. The dancers asked Daisy to teach them her dance!
Next up an audience with HRH – Joe and I have a very interesting chat about his studies, Gresham College, Z/Yen stuff and all.
Then dinner – Robert, Jolly, me and Daisy. More interesting chat. Then bed.
In addition to the Kanker album, linked above, there is a collection of over 200 photos from that part of the adventure that didn’t make the album, which can be seen at the link below:
