Her first tattoo. A visitor discovers truth in the advertising on the wall behind her.
Pleasure in pain at India Ink. India's first Tattoo Convention.
From the permanent bindi of Maharashtrian women to tiny cross on the right hand popular along the West Coast. Hanumans on the forearms to rangoli patterns made using crude heated needles, India has the largest number of tattoo wearing people in the world. They are the dark blue black kind but they are fast being replaced by colourful and hygienically created tattoos top down. And the best tattoo artists from across India and Nepal came together at Mumbai's World Trade Centre.
A tattoo artist advertises his painting skills at a stall at India Ink.
Painful grooming. It was not just tattoos that were on offer. The more painful it is, the better.
The equipment. For sale and use.
The venue was jam packed and most of the people were people who were getting tattoos for the second or nth time. Because, this was were Mumbaikars could choose the best from all over India at one place. And for the first timers, it was like fire walking. It's easier to do it in a crowd. You don't walk on fire in a lonely place.
Also read: Getting under India's skin by Aastha in this week's Tehelka.
