In the southern Indian city of Kochi, this mother and child sported bindis between their eyebrows, as well as sparkly bangles and dramatic eye makeup.
The young mother’s hair was also trimmed with a garland of fresh, aromatic jasmine — a practice that is customary with many of the ladies in the state of Kerala. On two separate afternoons, locals treated me to jasmine garlands, purchasing them from a flower merchant’s stand and then tying them into my hair. It was such a beautiful gesture and a generous way of sharing this custom with us. I was so very touched by my new friends’ random acts of kindness.
Tricia A. Mitchell is a freelance writer and photographer. Born in Europe but raised in the United States, she has lived in Valletta, Malta; Heidelberg, Germany; and Split, Croatia. An avid globetrotter who has visited more than 65 countries, she has a penchant for off-season travel. Tricia has learned that travel’s greatest gift is not sightseeing, rather it is the interactions with people. Some of her most memorable experiences have been sharing a bottle of champagne with distant French cousins in Lorraine, learning how to milk goats in a sleepy Bulgarian village, and ringing in the Vietnamese New Year with a Hanoi family. She welcomes any opportunity to practice French and German, and she loves delving into a place’s history and artisanal food scene.
A former education administrator and training specialist, Tricia has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in international relations. She and her husband, Shawn, married in the ruins of a snowy German castle. They’ve been known to escape winter by basing themselves in coastal Croatia or Southeast Asia.
Her writing has appeared in Fodor’s Travel, Frommer’s, and International Living.
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11 thoughts on “Photo du Jour: Mother & Child – Kochi, India”
A lovely, uplifting post. I like your choice of B&W – very stylish.
I’m happy it struck a chord, Rachael. Whenever I go to India, I’m always impressed that some ladies wear elaborate saris, gold jewelry and flowers – even when picking tea leaves all day, or carrying bins of heavy soil on their heads.
Beautiful photos. I recently spent some time in India myself. Everyday I wanted a bindi and flowers in my hair also! I even got to wear a sari a couple of times. :)
Travelingmad, thanks – a pleasure to meet you. How fun that you were able to wear the local accessories while in India. I just saw your sari picture – lovely! In what states of India were you?
While in Munnar, I purchased one of the traditional Kerala saris (creme, with light blue and delicately-woven metallic gold). I look forward to having a special occasion to which to wear it!
Thanks! I was in Tamil Nadu, near Pondicherry. I love so much about Indian culture. It’s really beautiful. I also hope to have another occasion to wear my sari.
Thanks for sharing your skills and experiences, an amazing culture and people, loving my time here in India. Thank you.
Travels With Tricia 
A lovely, uplifting post. I like your choice of B&W – very stylish.
I’m happy it struck a chord, Rachael. Whenever I go to India, I’m always impressed that some ladies wear elaborate saris, gold jewelry and flowers – even when picking tea leaves all day, or carrying bins of heavy soil on their heads.
Beautiful photos. I recently spent some time in India myself. Everyday I wanted a bindi and flowers in my hair also! I even got to wear a sari a couple of times. :)
Travelingmad, thanks – a pleasure to meet you. How fun that you were able to wear the local accessories while in India. I just saw your sari picture – lovely! In what states of India were you?
While in Munnar, I purchased one of the traditional Kerala saris (creme, with light blue and delicately-woven metallic gold). I look forward to having a special occasion to which to wear it!
Thanks! I was in Tamil Nadu, near Pondicherry. I love so much about Indian culture. It’s really beautiful. I also hope to have another occasion to wear my sari.
Thanks for sharing your skills and experiences, an amazing culture and people, loving my time here in India. Thank you.
Hello again, Kolkatakev! It’s a joy to share the uplifting moments in particular.
Say hi to India for us. :) I’m off to see what work you’ve been up to.
Great photos and good choice on the B&W.
Thank you, Mark – I liked how the b&w made the jasmine flowers really pop!
Hi Tricia! I’ve enjoyed your posts immensely, and your traveling is such an inspiration to me! Therefore, I have nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award (http://insearchofperfect.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/paying-it-forward/) :)
Yulia
So kind of you, Yulia – thank you very much! I’m really honored.
Congratulations to you too! :)