Asian Geographic - April 2018

(singke) #1
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


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DATA SOURCES: BUZZLE, CLASSROOM

PHOTO © SHUTTERSTOCK
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