The Chameleon Photo

Photographer’s Note

SCANNED SLIDE
I have taken this photo of this person who earns his living by dressing himself as Hindu Gods or Goddesses. They are known as "Bahurupi", closest english translation I could find is "The Chameleon". God fearing people give him their offering, which is not much but I gues this earns him a decent living.
Here he is dressed as goddess Kali.
Although usually presented in the West as simply dark and violent, Kali is a goddess with a long and complex history in Hinduism. Her earliest history as a creature of annihilation still has some influence, while more complex Tantric beliefs sometimes extend her role so far as to be the Ultimate Reality and Source of Being. Finally, the comparatively recent devotional movement largely conceives of Kali as a straightforwardly benevolent mother-goddess. Kali is associated with many devis (goddesses) as well as the deva (god) Shiva.

Kali is generally considered one of the consorts of Shiva. Her name seems to be a female version of the word 'kala' (Sanskrit for 'dark', 'time'- time in this form being a euphemism for death - or 'devourer of time' ); it also means 'Black Female,' in contrast to her consort, Shiva, who is white. The goddesses that she is associated or identified with include Durga, Bhowani Devi, Sati, Rudrani, Parvati, Chinnamasta, Chamunda, Kamakshi, Uma, Meenakshi, Himavati, Kumari. These names, if repeated, are believed to give special power to the worshipper.

yasoda-nandana, barrufeto_77, berek, rakeshgupta, Henryk_Bilor, ramesh_lalwani, syd1946, saamb, pablominto, sufi, axiotea, somnath, coco, asanak, abhishek, h_sedghi, yas_ank, mbaqir, touristdidi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

MAchmed (16) 2006-05-22 18:27

Hi Pranab,

A very good subject.

All the best,

Minhaj

barrufeto_77 (25935) 2006-05-23 1:11

Hi Pranab.

You can fins strange people like this in lot of places.

About this...really strange. How he is dressed is amazing!

Rgs, Oscar

berek (29005) 2006-05-23 2:16

Hi Pranab,
so interesting traditional wearing. colourful and meaningful picture. well don. . TFS
B.Erek
Meaning Sense :-)
Framing :-))
Idea :-))

pastadog (12821) 2006-05-23 3:56

Hi Pranab, hehe, I try to imagine his everyday routine, waking up in the morning, having breakfast, etc. then dressing like this and going to work... Funny shot! Regards, Daniel

rosaline (0) 2006-05-23 4:19

Hi Pranab
Interesting note about this Chameleon. I don't remember seeing one when I was in India last year, but what a striking appearance. I love the decorations on this man and the vast array of make up. Very nicely seen.
Aubrey

Angshu (34089) 2006-05-23 5:51

Dear Pranab
I was quite thrilled to see a Bahurupi here. I think the contrast is an issue here, especially near the face. But a good subject brought out well
Regards
Angshu

rakeshgupta (2670) 2006-05-23 8:46

Hello Pranab,
Good shot of Behrupiya. These persons are really hardworkers, they spent their whole of the day to earn little to survive and the great thing is that they have maintained the tradition of Behrupiya for hundreds of years.
Good shot.
Thanks for sharing.
- Rakesh

Henryk_Bilor (20371) 2006-05-23 12:34

Hello Pranab
Hehe, what a fashion ;). I didn`t know that a goddess could be blue-skined. Very interesting image.
Regards

ramesh_lalwani (3209) 2006-05-23 12:43

Hi Parnab
Very nice details you have given about Kali.Very good portrait.I wish I could see his face clearly.Good shot.TFS
Ramseh

syd1946 (17965) 2006-05-23 12:56

Hello Pranab,
Very nice and very "traditional" shot.I like
the subject,the colors and the use of light.
and of course your note!
Best wishes,
Thomas

saamb (1004) 2006-05-23 17:16

dear pranab,
nice photo of india's odds!
thanks for note.
SAAM

pablominto (41314) 2006-05-24 9:18

Great image, my friend!
Not superb but interesting, most amazing custom...
And your picture proves it is a fact!
Educational quality, fine details...
Greetings,
Pablo -

sufi (9568) 2006-05-24 16:03

Hi Pranab...
Very interesting person and amazing portrait photograph, my friend... It's also very colorful... Beuatiful light and perfect details... Of course, great shot, very educational and detailed note...
TFS...
Stay well..
Salim.

axiotea (16263) 2006-05-25 2:01

Hello Pranab,
Very interesting note about these people "Bahurupi" and a nice image...I see that she have flowers around her neck instead of monster's heads and she is not "putting out one's tongue" like we see on posters...On that photo i like the way She is looking at you...
All the best,
Marilyn

somnath (220) 2006-05-25 12:25

Hi pranab,
Nice composition of subject. But somehow the snap gets
affected by lack of light, the blue colour, and all the cheap garlands absorbed a lot of that. The face of this
"bohurupi" is dark, so quite unclear. Its interesting to see that the two false-hands (wooden) and the weapon (Khanra) are missing, that we find for the same in Bengal. I also notice the difference in her crown.

coco (28090) 2006-05-25 18:04