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In this archive story we are learning about Women working in India at the Amber Fort in Jaipur.
Read the background story of this archive photo by the photographer. |
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An Indian woman is working in the garden of Kesar Kyari also known as the 'Saffron Garden' at the Amber Fort near Jaipur, India. The gardener's labour during the year include planting flowers and other plants, weeding, pruning, grafting, deadheading, mixing and preparation of insecticides and other products for pest control and tending garden compost.
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Amber Fort portraiture
Weeds tend to thrive at the expense of the more refined edible or ornamental plants. Gardeners need to control weeds using physical or chemical methods to stop weeds from reaching a mature stage of growth when they could be harmful to domesticated plants. Early activities such as starting young plants from seeds for later transplantation are usually performed in early spring.
What is gardening?
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants as part of horticulture. In gardens, ornamental plants are often grown for their flowers, foliage or overall appearance as useful plants, such as root vegetables, leaf vegetables, fruits and herbs, are grown for consumption, for use as dyes or for medicinal or cosmetic use. |
An ancient practice through generations
Gardening in India is an ancient practice that has been passed down through generations. It is an important part of many Indian cultures, as it provides an opportunity for people to grow their own fruits, vegetables and herbs. Gardening also serves as a way to relax and a form of exercise, as well as a way to make a living. The climate in India is diverse, so the type of gardening that can be done varies from region to region. In the north, the climate is mostly dry, so gardening is often done during the monsoon season. In the south, the climate is humid, so gardening is done throughout the year.
India is home to many different types of plants, including vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. Some of the most popular vegetables grown in India include tomatoes, potatoes, okra, cauliflower and chillies. Fruits such as mangoes, bananas and coconuts are also popular. Herbs such as mint, basil and cumin are grown in many gardens. Flowers such as marigolds, roses and jasmine are also popular.
Gardening in India requires careful planning and preparation. It is important to choose the right type of soil, as different plants require different types of soil. It is also important to choose the right type of fertilizer, as different plants have different needs. Additionally, it is important to choose the right type of plants, as some plants may require more care than others. The process of gardening can be both rewarding and challenging. It can be a great way to relax and enjoy the outdoors. It can also be a great way to make a living, as many people in India sell their produce at local markets. Gardening in India is an ancient practice that is still popular today and it provides an opportunity for people to grow their own fruits, vegetables and herbs. It can be both rewarding and challenging, but is definitely worth the effort.
Gardens in India
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation or enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature, as an ideal setting for social or solitary human life. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is control and the garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants as part of horticulture. In gardens, ornamental plants are often grown for their flowers, foliage or overall appearance useful plants, such as root vegetables, leaf vegetables, fruits and herbs, are grown for consumption, for use as dyes or for medicinal or cosmetic use. Gardening may be very specialized, with only one type of plant grown or involve a variety of plants in mixed plantings. It involves an active participation in the growing of plants and tends to be labour-intensive, which differentiates it from farming or forestry.
"Gardening ranges in scale from fruit orchards, to long boulevard plantings with one or more different types of shrubs, trees and herbaceous plants, to residential back gardens including lawns and foundation plantings and to container gardens grown inside or outside"
Women working in India
Contrary to common perception, a large percentage of women in India are actively engaged in traditional and non-traditional work. However, there are far fewer women than men in the paid workforce. In urban India, women participate in the workforce in impressive numbers and in rural India in the agriculture and allied industrial sectors, women account for as much as almost 90 percent of the labour force. The traditional occupation of India is agriculture and traditional occupations have been described as occupations practiced by successive generations, rooted in customs and practices and focused on subsistence economies, pre-dating colonization and the industrial revolution and agriculture is the backbone of the country. India was called self-sustainable country when agriculture was the backbone of the country and people residing in rural areas depend mostly on Agriculture.
Portraiture at the Amber Fort
Amer Fort or Amber Fort is a fort located in Amer, Rajasthan, India and is situated on a forested hill promontory that juts into Maota Lake near the town of Amer about 11 kilometers from Jaipur city, the capital of Rajasthan. Mughal architecture greatly influenced the architectural style of several buildings of the fort. Constructed of red sandstone and marble, the attractive, opulent palace is laid out on four levels, each with a courtyard. It consists of the 'Diwan-e-Aam' or 'Hall of Public Audience', the Diwan-e-Khas or 'Hall of Private Audience', the Sheesh Mahal also known as the 'Mirror palace' or 'Jai Mandir' and the 'Sukh Niwas' where a cool climate is artificially created by winds that blow over a water cascade within the palace. Hence, the Amer Fort is also popularly known as the Amer Palace.
The palace was the residence of the Rajput Maharajas and their families. At the entrance to the palace near the fort's Ganesh Gate, there is a temple dedicated to 'Shila Devi', a goddess of the 'Chaitanya cult', which was given to Raja Man Singh when he defeated the Raja of Jessore, Bengal in 1604. Jessore is now in Bangladesh. Raja Man Singh had twelve queens so he made twelve rooms, one for each Queen. Each room had a staircase connected to the King's room but the Queens were not to go upstairs. Raja Jai Singh had only one queen so he built one room equal to three old queen's rooms.
The palace is divided into 6 separate but main sections each with its own entry gate and courtyard. The main entry is through the 'Suraj Pol' also known as the 'Sun Gate' which leads to the first main courtyard. This was the place where armies would hold victory parades with their war bounty on their return from battles, which were also witnessed by the Royal family's womenfolk through the latticed windows. This gate was built exclusively and was provided with guards as it was the main entry into the palace. It faced east towards the rising Sun, hence the name. Royal cavalcades and dignitaries entered the palace through this gate.
"One of the highlights of my time in Jaipur is photographing the majestic Amber Fort at sunset. Perched high on a hilltop overlooking the city, the fort is bathed in a golden glow as the sun dips below the horizon. With my Nikon tripod set up, I capture a series of long exposure shots, painting the sky with streaks of orange and pink"
See this video about Amber Fort in Jaipur made by Desi Traveling.
Drawn to India in many ways
Since the photographer first arrived in India back in 2008, he has been drawn to India. A country where he experienced a side of human existence that he had never seen anywhere else. A land of the unknown, the India that nothing can quite prepare you for because of its very essence touched the photographer. If you are interested in seeing more photos and pictures from India, you can see one of the slideshows, which are also displayed on the photographer's website.
"- Jaipur greeted me with open arms, a city adorned in the hues of royalty. The Amber Fort stood majestic against the Aravalli hills, its walls echoing tales of valor and grandeur. Wandering through its ornate halls, I marveled at the intricate details that adorned every surface", the Photographer says.
"- The vibrant colors, the lush greenery and the warm sunshine – India is a gardener's paradise. As I walked through the beautiful surroundings of the Ajmer Fort, I was captivated by the sight of working gardeners, their hands expertly tending to the flora that adorned the Ajmer Fort's public spaces. One such gardener was the Indian woman in this archive story, her weathered hands pruning the flowers that cascaded over the area. With a gentle touch, she was doing gardening work into perfect symmetry, with her pink 'Saree' standing out against the backdrop of the Ajmer Fort's sandstone walls", the Photographer says again.
"- As a gardener she was busy weeding the ground and she moved with a practiced grace and I literally saw people working with their bare hands and one of the moments I remember most was this woman in the photograph above. She used the plastic bucket in the gardering work. These gardeners, along with countless others, play a vital role in transforming India's cities into living gardens. Their dedication and skill ensure that the streets and squares are adorned with vibrant blooms, providing a welcome respite from the heat and the hustle and bustle of urban life. Their work is a testament to the deep connection that Indians have with nature and their passion for gardening is evident in every carefully tended plant and flower", the Photographer says again.
Read also: An Indian portrait
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India is a land full of stories. On every street, on every corner and in the many places in India, life is rushing by you as a photographer with millions of stories to be told. In the archive story above, you hopefully had a readable insight in the story that was behind the photo of a woman near Jaipur. On this website of Kristian Bertel | Photography you can find numerous travel pictures from the photographer. Stories and moments that tell the travel stories of how the photographer captured the specific scene that you see in the picture. The photographer's images have a story behind them, images that all are taken from around India throughout his photo journeys. The archive stories delve into Kristian's personal archive to reveal never-before-seen, including portraits and landscapes beautifully produced snapshots from various travel assignments. The archive is so-far organized into photo stories, this one included, each brought to life by narrative text and full-color photos. Together, these fascinating stories tell a story about the life in India. India, the motherland to many people around the world, a land of unforgetable travel moments. The archive takes viewers on a spectacular visual journey through some of the most stunning photographs to be found in the photographer's archive collection. The photographer culled the images to reflect the many variations on the universal theme of beauty and everyday life in India. By adding these back stories the photographer's work might immensely enhanced the understanding of the photographs.
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