Videos from the Field: Part I

Videos from the Field: Part I

Videos and written descriptions by Heid Jerstad

Krishna parade in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India. This hill station, normally reasonably quiet other than the Punjabi tourists who crowd the Mall came to life with a parade celebrating the birth of Krishna in early August 2012. This float was apparently Shiva, spraying water on the crowd through a topknot.

Crowds of young children would concentrate on particular performances. The floats moved slowly through town, and whole families were hanging out of the windows on either side while sweetmeat vendors and chaiwallas alike served the performers and ritual specialists as they went past.

The crowded streets near Picture Palace were busier even than usual. The hill inclines and hairpin bends just don’t lend themselves to ease of access for these inflexible vehicles. Everyone seems to manage somehow though, wending their way patiently through the crowd.

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