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The above was of course written after a very tiring day. My work puts me into constant close contact with mass public. I do not have a self-contained project within a narrow range or the comfort of book-knowledge, doing a research project in some quiet corner. I work in the midst of the daily existence.

Oct 18, 70

Nakataya (the incident from the Ramayana of Lakshmi cutting of the sister of Ravana's nose.) is the focus for a celebration held near Lauri Beer. Parts of the Ramayana are given all over Vanarasi, each night in different sections of the city. This Nakataya is one of the most famous primarily for the procession which takes place that has nothing to do with the religious bit. -

I go to photograph the children who will play Ram, Lakshmi and Sita. Arrive too late they have finished - they are putting the last touches to the costumes. Take some pictures as they pose, eyes constant on the lens. Shy absurd kids in heavy make up. But not thirty minutes later these kids are on a raised decorated platform in the center of the street with crowds of women and men offering flowers in worship to them as though they are the real gods incarnate. And for the people they are, the kids bored not fully aware of what's happening. Seated on a throne smothered in flowers. The crowd pushing and shoving to get closer, a man at the top of the

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ladder to the platform transferring the devotee's offerings to the laps of the Gods. - The actual nose cutting took place without announcement and with very few people to witness it. I missed it but it must only have lasted a few minutes. The procession was what everyone was coming to see and that did not start till 12:30 AM. The street is blocked off for a long distance -strings of colored lights overhead. The incessant ear blasting distorted sound of Hindi film music cascading from numerous loudspeakers. The street filled with roaming men by the thousands. It is impossible to tell if a man is married or not as wives are not seen at public celebrations. Only a few lower caste women in special barred off areas. Or if a house is on the procession route, a woman will watch from her window. but it is safe to assume most of the men present are married. They parade back and forth arms locked around each other, holding hands. Greeting each other with emotional hugs of affection. This physical intimacy between men in public is continually strange when contrasted with the coldness and distance that husband and wife display. But then the real emotional relationships are between a man and his friends, outside of his relationship with his parents. The wife does not count for much (this is a broad generalization but mostly true). So as far down the street as you can see, thousands of men fill the street, laughing calling to each other, making over staged greetings - the procession is composed of small floats made up around the gimmick of balance. Objects