The Fish Lady
This is my host mom (Maduri) negotiating with the fish lady, who brings fish directly from the ocean to the front door. You are looking at our lunch that day. Notice the casual everyday cotton saree and her nose decor (mine is much smaller). You can also see her gold chain under her saree--this is their version of a wedding ring. Each woman's necklace is somewhat different, with different charms...the husband puts it on his wife during their wedding ceremony and she doesn't remove it (or isn't supposed to) until he dies.
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab in... ... read more 
