The Traveling Family Circus

Benaulim Beach, Goa, India

We heard little footsteps behind us.  The little Indian girl was dressed in a mini clown suit. It had blue, red and yellow stripes. The costume was too big for her and the big, floppy cuffs covered her tiny hands. She revealed a mouth full of small, white teeth as she gazed up at us with a smile. The deep hue of her Indian gold earrings contrasted her dark skin. She didn't speak a word at all. She only smiled and, with interest, looked patiently into our cameras. Gradually, her family was getting further and further away but she didn't seem to notice. Her swift eyes followed our every move. When we said hi, her smile only widened. When we said goodbye and started to walk away she tried to follow but was summoned by her big sister to catch up. She left an imprint on my mind for the rest of the day.

A couple of days later, during lunch at a beach side restaurant, we saw the little girl again. This time she didn't see us. She was busy setting something up with her family. As it turned out they were a family of traveling performers who worked for petty rupees. Every day they walked the shores of the Arabian Sea, along Benaulim beach, stopping at various restaurants and beach resorts to perform their routine. There were five of them in total, not including an infant.

The show was little more than this little girl and her brother who walked a tightrope secured between two surprisingly sturdy bamboo poles. It would end with the two of them performing nimble acrobatics accompanied by drum beats of the tabla by one of the sisters.  I saw them constantly for the month and quite often tipped the Indian girl a little more when she happened to come around for the donations. I'm not sure if she recognized me. If I ever return, I would surely spot her right away.