THE PALANQUIN ....A METAL EMBOSSING...

WHO IS TRAVELLING IN THIS PRETTY PALANQUIN?

IS SHE THE PRINCESS?

THE BRIDE?

AN ARISTOCRATIC LADY OF RANK 

FROM THE DAYS OF YORE?

CARRIED BY THE FOUR FAITHFUL PALANQUIN BEARERS

WHERE IS SHE GOING?

MAYBE TO A TEMPLE...HER FAVORITE MANDIR..

OR 

MAYBE TO VISIT HER NEAR AND DEAR

OR

MAYBE TO HER HUSBAND'S HOME ?

OR 

TO THE RIVERSIDE FOR A CUSTOMARY BATH???

IN THIS METAL EMBOSSING,

I FIND A NEW STORY EVERY TIME I SEE IT...

THIS ROYAL MODE OF TRANSPORT MAY RAISE EYEBROWS

AND EVEN EARN A SCORNFUL FROWN IN TODAYS' WORLD....

BUT....

IT WAS A REALITY EVEN A HUNDRED  YEARS AGO

 IN MANY PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY

FOR THE PRIVILEGED FEW ....

EVEN TODAY,MANY ROYAL HOUSEHOLDS DO TREASURE 

THEIR PALKI/ PALLAKU /DOLI /PALANQUIN

AS A PROUD POSSESSION WHICH IS PART OF THEIR REGAL HISTORY...