Michael Benanav studies nomadic people as a writer and photographer. So when he was invited to accompany the Van Gujjar of northern India on their annual migration with their water buffalo, he jumped at the chance. Turned out, they wanted a journalist along that year for reasons he hadn’t expected.
photo by Ben Chrisman
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- I was constantly struck by the deep emotional bonds that Van Gujjars have with their buffaloes. They think of them as family members; they name them and mourn for them when they die and would never dream of using them or selling them for meat. In fact, while Muslim, Van Gujjars are also traditionally vegetarian.
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- Bashi, pictured here, says she loves all of her family’s buffaloes equally, because she doesn’t want to hurt any of their feelings.
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- Traditionally, all Van Gujjars are buffalo herders, men and women alike. Buffalo milk is their main source of income – and protein. Thus, keeping their herd well-fed and healthy is every family’s top priority. “If our buffaloes die, we die,” is a common Van Gujjar saying.
Music
Blue Dot Sessions