Shawls for All Seasons

As a photographer and shawl aficionado, there is one shot that I still see as clearly as it was presented over seven years ago, but was not awake nor alert enough to capture ~

It was a cold, fog misted morning in the Himalayan foothill town of Gorkha, original home of the legendary “Gurkah”, as the Brits call them, but properly named “Gorkha” fighting troups. At 5 am, we had climbed up into the village from our hotel to find the only tea stall already open for early morning risers. Sitting there, holding a tiny glass of hot chai in my chilled fingers, I regarded the Nepalese couple on the rugged wooden bench directly across from me.

They were like a picture from a different time, yet thoroughly and solidly in front of me. A husband and wife, petite and hunched against the cold just as we were. Within the gray light of pre-dawn, however, two things stood out – their beautifully structured faces and their gorgeous shawls adorned with mountain flowers in brilliant colours, driving away any feelings of doubt that might creep in with the discomfort of the climate.

Naturally, shawls are worn by both gentlemen and ladies on the Sub-Continent, so this was not at all unusual. Unable to take my eyes off them, I submerged myself in their faces, expressions, clothing, bearing, and wondered what their daily lives were like.

“We must go before the sun rises and gets hot,” announced our two young guides who coincidentally were from the state of Assam in northwestern India, region of hearty black estate teas and immediate neighbor to Darjeeling, another famed growing area known for its plantations that produce delicate, “champagne” teas. Headed for the hill fort and cave of the supreme yogi Gorakshanath, we indeed had a steep journey ahead of us, and one that would take several hours to ascend the 3,100 stone steps laid into the mountain side.

Turning away into the Mists of Time without knowing any particulars at all about the lives of these two serene hill people, we continued on our way. “They look like they are quite elderly, but still want to get up early each day,” I remarked to one of our friends from Nepal. “No, actually they are only about 50, but appear so old because of the hard life they have working the terraced fields here in the mountains.”

So, I did not have my camera ready, but their images live still in my eyes ~ and in my heart ~

Warm Thoughts,

Sylvia ~ Chief Shawl Lover ~ Hamsa Shawls