Young women are repairing a spinning wheel in the village of Barjarsar.
The Meghwal people are known as the carpet weaver’s caste.
The Meghwal people produce camel, goat and sheep wool that they spin on a wheel. This technique has not changed for centuries and was promoted by Mahatma Gandhi, who used it to produce his own cloth.

Meghwal People,
Barjarsar, Rajasthan desert, India.

The wool thread is first spun with a wheel, and then twisted by hand. Once twisted, the thread is much stronger and can be used to weave carpets.

The Meghwal people are among some of the poorest people in India. They live in small villages scattered throughout the Rajasthan desert.

Meghwal People,
Barjarsar, Rajasthan desert, India.

The Meghwal weave traditional patterns that are passed on from father to son. Usually men weave while women spin, but both are skilled in every aspect of the carpet production process.

Meghwal People,
Barjarsar, Rajasthan desert, India.

The Meghwal weave traditional patterns that are passed on from father to son. Usually men weave while women spin, but both are skilled in every aspect of the carpet production process.

Meghwal People,
Barjarsar, Rajasthan desert, India.

For Megwal people, smoking is a social event. They pass around a single shilum pipe that their lips never touch. They smoke the shilum by closing their hands around it, inhale some tobacco and hand it off to the next person.

Meghwal People,
Barjarsar, Rajasthan desert, India.

Guests are always welcome with a shilum of tobacco.

Meghwal People,
Barjarsar, Rajasthan desert, India.