Old Photos-Various Vintage Photos-Part 100

 

Indian Husband and Wife Vintage Photograph Source: ebay

Vintage Photograph of Indian Man and Wife with their Children Source: ebay

 

 

Portrait of Two Women - Eastern Bengal 1860's Source: British Library

Portrait of Nine Snake Charmers Posed with their Pipes, Baskets and Sacks Containing the Snakes - Eastern Bengal 1860's Bengali snake charmers used a number of species of snake including the most popular 'Jait' or cobra. Upon capture, venemous snakes would have their fangs removed, with the poison bag carefully preserved. This would reach high prices in local markets where Hindu physicians would purchase venom for use in the treatment of disease. Snake charmers would feed their snakes on fish, frogs and mice. Their charges would rarely live for more than six months in captivity. The snakes were used during the Manasa Devi festival, held in July or August, when priests would make them crawl in front of the idol during ceremonies.Source: British Library

Group of Men probably from Agricultural Castes - Eastern Bengal 1860's Source: British Library

Portrait of a Man Benloging to Kayasth Caste (Hindu Writer Caste) - Eastern Bengal 1860's Source: British Library

A Muslim Scholar posed with a Book - Eastern Bengal 1860's Source: British Library

Portrait of a Goala or Member of the Muslim Cowherding Class - Eastern Bengal 1860's Source: British Library

Portrait of a Kulin Brahman (High Caste Priest) - Eastern Bengal 1860's The Kulin Brahmans were a branch of the Hindu priestly class in Bengal whose social organisation included a well-established system of polygamy, where one man could take as many wives as he wished. The contemporary records of James Wise in his 'Notes on the Races of Eastern Bengal' records that the marriage of a daughter into a reputable Kulin family meant a raise in social standing and public esteem for her family. A noted colony of Kulin Brahmans was based at Lakshmipasa, in the Jessore District of Bangladesh.Source: British Library

Portrait of a reputed hermaphrodite (Hijra) and companions - Eastern Bengal 1860's Hermaphrodites, also known today in South Asia as 'hijra', are often followers of the Hindu goddess Bahuchara Mata.Source: British Library

Portraits of Two Men Belonging to the Chandal or Namasudra Caste (Ghasi sub-caste) - Eastern Bengal 1860's Source: British Library