The man was selling cigarettes, paan and gutka on the street
Nearby a kiosk selling not-so-Indian phone cases and accessories, a very Indian kiosk was open for business. This is a tobacco shop. But cigarettes are not the only thing they sell. There is a wide array of paan and gutka, a luxury item made from bottle gourd, which is rarely seen in Japan.
When I pointed my camera at the tobacconist, he gave me a quizzical look. There is a hint of caution in his expression. Or perhaps he is just tired from being too accustomed to tourists taking pictures.
It seems that in recent years there has been a movement to regulate the use of betel nuts as a luxury food. However, it is still sold all over India as a matter of course. That is how common it is. Still, strangely enough, I rarely see the reddish spit of betel nuts on the streets. Those bright red trails of spit were burned into my mind as part of everyday life in India, but in reality, such sights are few and far between.
Is it possible that there is a manner of avoiding making a mess on the road? Or maybe I am just missing it. Either way, I glanced again at the tobacconist's gaze, feeling a small interest in the mystery of it all.
| Dec 2024 INDIA PEOPLE | |
| CAP MAN MUMBAI PAAN TOBACCONIST |
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PHOTO DATA
No
12729
Shooting Date
May 2024
Posted On
December 11, 2024
Place
Mumbai, India
Genre
Portrait Photography
Camera
SONY ALPHA 7R V
Lens
ZEISS BATIS 2/40 CF
