Indian Beauty: the true beauty of ordinary women

Romanian photographer Michaela Noroc is known for her stunning photo project "Atlas of Beauty", which allows you to see the beauty of ordinary women in a natural environment — in the places where they live and work.

Recently, Michaela visited India, from where she brought photos of local women radiating original and natural beauty. According to the photographer, many women in India are discriminated against and their lives are very difficult, but nevertheless they are an incredible example of strength and beauty.

Slums and elite areas, the dusty desert of Tar and Rajasthan, the colonial alleys of Mumbai and the banks of the sacred Ganges River — everywhere Michaela met and photographed amazing women.

Since childhood, this girl has lived in a small tent in Mumbai. Her father died when she was very young, and her brave mother, who trades in the market, did everything for the girl to study all these years. According to the photographer, she has rarely met such a warm and kind person with such a positive attitude and a good education, even if the sidewalk serves as a home for this girl.

Sonam Kapoor is a popular Indian actress.

There are more than two thousand ethnic groups in India. The photographer met this young Marathi in the city of Nasik.

The Indian state of Goa used to be a Portuguese colony, which is why there are so many churches there. The photographer met this girl during a Christian wedding.

A young pilgrim and a Hindu woman makes an offering in the Ganges River in Varanasi. The city is considered the spiritual capital of India.

Urvashi Patole calls on women to destroy the stereotypes that have developed in the country. She created The Bikerni, an association for women motorcyclists, for this purpose.

This woman will soon be 100 years old. Just imagine that the century-old history of the country has passed right in front of these beautiful eyes.

Scenic Indian trains carry about 7 billion passengers across the country every year.

Mumbai is the most populated city in India, it is home to ethnic groups from all over the country. The girl in the photo is a Tamil. The photo was taken at the celebration on the occasion of the end of the 40-day fast.

In the state of Rajasthan, the magical part of India, almost every woman wears a bright national costume and a lot of jewelry.

Pushkar

A girl from the Kalbeliya tribe at the camel fair in Pushkar. Until recently, the kalbelii were known as snake catchers and poison dealers. Their famous dance repeats the movements of a snake.

In India, you can often meet policemen on the streets.

The girl in the photo will give birth to her first child in a few months. After the wedding, most Indian women move into the house of their husband's relatives.

Dharavi is a slum of Mumbai, the largest slum in the world — about a million people live there. On these narrow streets, the photographer met many sympathetic and sincere people.

A Sikh woman stands at the Golden Temple in the city of Amritsar. Followers of Sikhism never cut their hair, covering them with a turban. They always carry a kirpan, a small dagger symbolizing the duty of a Sikh to protect those in trouble.

Designer from Chennai, came on vacation to Goa.

Pushkar

There are more than 170 million followers of Islam in India.

Traditional costumes are very popular in India, but many women, especially in large cities, also wear modern clothes.

Students come to college in traditional costumes on special occasions.

The Parsis are descended from Persian Zoroastrians who migrated to India more than 1,000 years ago. Most of them, like this girl, live in close-knit communities around beautiful Zoroastrian temples. They retain their ancient beliefs, but also succeed and are part of modern society.

A deaf-mute girl using sign language shows the word "friendship". The photographer took this shot during a course organized by a public organization that helps women and children from slums to get an education.