Sweeping The Nation

HTemp:  37c

Rain:       0.0"

`-$:         44.35

Since India is a huge country in population (1.2 billion) and the labor is cheap, there's a lot of busy/make work going on. Every house/apartment of any value has a guard.  Go into a store and you might have to check out with four+ people. Someone to show you to the item, another to take it to the checkout counter, a third to write it up, a fourth to take the money and then another to hand you your item.

One of the more ubiquitous sights is people sweeping. Inside, outside, public, private, all times of the day, and in all sorts of places, people are sweeping.  We can't imagine how dirty the country would be without them.

The broom, too, is worth mentioning. Forget finding a western-style, flat broom.  Here, they use a one-handed model like Sarah is holding in this picture.  For inside use, the broom is made from fine grass. For outside sweeping, brooms tend to be rougher and made from coconut palms. They make an unmistakable shushing sound that we can hear early each morning through our bedroom window. They're quite beautiful in their simplicity -- and watching someone sweep is also elegant.  Until you realize it's back-breaking work.

Sweeping happens in poor areas and at temples......

....by public works guys and inside churches.  Note the broom being used by the guy in green has a long handle but still ends with the traditional coconut material.

Our favorite:  A woman in traditional sari with a classic sweeper in an old graveyard.  On her cell phone.  A little slice of life that summarizes India.