#17 Nomad, aka …

During our travels in India, friends have suggested ethnic phrases that closely describe our way of life:

Banjara (credit Sridhar)

A Hindi word meaning a wanderer, nomad, or gypsy, referring to a traditionally mobile person or community. Also commonly associated with the Banjara tribe (akin to the European gypsies), a historically nomadic ethnic group known for distinct cultural traditions, of which the most well-known is the mirror-work embroidery

Khanabadosh (credit Mrs Kanta Joshi)

An Urdu and Hindi word of Persian origin that translates to nomad, wanderer, or vagabond. Literally, it means "one who carries their home on their shoulders" (khana meaning house/home and dosh meaning shoulder)

Vaanaprastha ashram (credit Mrs Neera Sapra)

The vedas describe 4 ashrams or stages of life, the third of which is the vaanaprastha, literally meaning ‘way of the forest’, when a person moves from the emphasis on artha and kama (wealth and pleasures) to focus on moksha (spiritual liberation) by giving up their home and retiring to the forest. Admittedly, this only partially applies to us (giving up home and wealth) but we continue to focus on deriving pleasure, and perhaps use this as the means to achieving spiritual liberation?!

Yayavar (credit Google)

Yayavar (or Yāyāvara, /यायावर/) is a Sanskrit and Hindi word that means a nomad, wanderer, traveler, or vagabond. It describes someone who moves constantly from place to place rather than staying in one fixed home

We loved hearing these ethnic terms that describe our way of life!