Day 35-Palace Dolls

T'WAS MUM'S 69th birthday and here, we have the Banjara gypsies dancing in her honour and good name.

Actually this post was supposed to be my Day 34 post and has been sitting in my draft box since. It was indeed my mum's birthday, the day after I went out and bought all those flowers.

That day, to celebrate, mum and I decided to spend quality time together strolling down Little India. What a coup it was for I found a new shipment of Indian dollies similar in calibre to my dancing girls. As stated on Day 36, thanks to my frantic buying spree, population Maharajah's Palace is now 49. This means at least 41 new palace stories (why don't people like dolls in their dollhouses? Where are the stories if not for them?)

So here they are:

Firstly, we have 8 Banjara gypsies. Taller and bigger than most (men, 7", ladies, 6 1/2"), the Banjara (also called Lambadi or Lanbani) are a nomadic tribe in India. In the early 1800s, they worked for the Moghuls as carriers transporting provisions and arms. They lived in camps on the outskirts of army encampments.

These gypsies are usually poor and need to supplement their income by making such items like broomsticks, iron tools, and needles. They may also repair tool or work with stone.

The 8 here however belong to the group who believe that one does not have to work for a living, but may earn their keeps by "religious begging." Amongst them are acrobats, magicians, tricksters, story-tellers and fortune-tellers. We even have 1 tattooist. They have to be "adaptable" and change their profession when need because they depend on the people in that society for their livelihood.

The End

That was the reason why this post stayed in the draft box for so long . I have not been able to come up with the other stories, largely thanks to trying to work on my Persian carpet which is very time consuming, amongst a million other things.

So now I am appealing to the generosity of You-Who-Are-Interested and seeking your kind assistance if you wish (or not :) ) to offer up your version of who you imagine my characters are (just pick anyone you like (or not), any number of them in any number of words and they will form part of the myths or legends or folklore of My Maharajah Palace (eg: "Set A: Lady in pink -She is a rumour-monger.") A dedicated post will be made subsequently in your honour for your kind contribution. Here are the characters.

Set A: (from 5 1/4-5 1/2")
Set B (5 5/8" ladies and 5 7/8" men)

Set C (5 5/8" lady and 5 7/8" man)Set D (5 5/8" ladies and 5 7/8" men)
Set E (5 5/8" lady and 5 7/8" man)
Set F (5" ladies and 5 1/4" men)
Set G (5 5/8" )
Set H (4 1/2")
Set I (5 5/8" lady and 5 7/8" man)
Set J (3 3/4")
Eagerly anticipating,
Sans