Asian Geographic - April 2018

above At the Raksha

Bandhan festival,

sisters often tie an

ornate kalava on their

brother’s wrist for

spiritual protection

Kalava-making is a family effort, and in

many cases the only source of income for

villagers. Everything is done by hand, and

everyone chips in, even children. Dyeing

begins before daybreak, and only late in the

evening – over 12 hours later – are the sun-

dried threads stored for the night. One batch

takes up to six days to make, in a method

passed down through the generations.

Lalgopalganj’s kalavas are shipped out and

offered at temples across India and Nepal.

Production is a year-round affair, although

the month before the nine-day-long Navratri

festival in autumn is when demand peaks.

Though no one knows for sure how two

remote villages came to be at the centre of a

kalava enterprise, it’s something that temples

in the nearby holy city of Allahabad – which

sees some of the largest pilgrimages on Earth –

surely give thanks for. ag

Red threads feature throughout Asia – often

imparting the wearer with protection and prosperity

Spiritual Strings

China

Before a wedding, a bride’s hair is brushed

and tied with a red string to symbolise how the

couple have been destined to meet and marry

2

Israel

Red string bracelets are worn for protection

against evil and to ward off bad luck. They’re

also secured on baby cots to keep infants safe

1

Tibet

A red thread represents bravery, and is

offered in a religious ceremony amid chanting

of scriptures by monks. It’s later tied on the

wrist to unite body and soul

3

Cambodia

Family and friends tie red string on the wrists of

newly married couples. The longer the strings

stay on, the greater the blessings they receive

4

2

3

1

4

DATA SOURCES: BUZZLE, CLASSROOM

PHOTO © SHUTTERSTOCK