Kutch is a section of Gujarat that is actually the second largest sub-state in India. It is well known for the Asian  Lions at Gir Forest and the beautiful, colorful handmade crafts of India. https://talesalongtheway.com/2013/09/08/asiatic-lions/   These are the handmade tribal embroidery items so popular in America.  The Law Garden or Night Market in Ahmedabad is a great local place to shop if you can’t go to Kutch. https://talesalongtheway.com/2013/06/13/the-law-garden-kitsch-and-glitter-in-ahmedabads-night-market/

Yikes, I have written so much that I am referring to past posts!  Now after setting the scene, there is more to Kutch than lions and handicrafts.  It is a favorite place for film making in Gujarat because of the shore and water, the forest and wildlife, and little  quaint villages.   The filmmakers in Gujarat can only make films that are historical in  nature  and/or stories of the myths of religion.  I have no idea why that is so, but it was told to me by Chandresh who is a young Indian filmmaker. https://talesalongtheway.com/2013/06/14/california-dreaming-with-a-young-indian-filmmaker-chandresh-bhatt/ We got to be friends when the students and I were asked to be in an episode of a popular police TV  drama show when Chandresh was the line producer and the one to ask us.                                                    https://talesalongtheway.com/2013/03/22/we-really-are-rock-stars-action-tv-stars/

Here is Chandresh and his “deer” friend sitting in the forest of Kutch.  Chandresh was there preparing for a film when he met this family. They had a baby deer as a pet!  Now read that again!  Deer are so skittish here and rightly so. They have no protection except their camouflage fur and running fast and there are many predictors and during the fall hunters can kill them.  As far as I know, the only destructive thing done by deer is eating an unprotected garden in the summer.  But in this picture you can see how close she is. I asked if it was a doctored picture and he said, “No!” Maybe she wants to be in your film. Looks pretty photogenic to me!   India has gentle people and gentle animals. . . . . (Now I know that not all Indians are gentle and have read terrible things they have done, but I have only known gentle people…..and animals there. )

Here is the boy who feeds and cares for the young deer.  I don’t know if it is only an outdoor pet, but I imagine so. Dogs in India are outside pets.

Watch out little deer as the Asian Lions are very near!  Stay close to your  people!

Namaste. . . .