Begging for alms, Calcutta

@colin: That's a result of the WB unintentionally set to Flourescent or something ... a happy accident :-)

@priya: No, I didn't; she smiled spontaneously when I raised the camera to my eye.

And while it is sad that there are people who need to beg to survive, this lady wasn't one of them; she was asking for donations to some religious cause (hence, the idol that can be seen in silhouette). And that, when you think of it, may be considered one of the grand spiritual traditions of India — numerous yogis and even the Buddha himself having chosen to beg for alms.

@Damon Schreiber: Thank you.

@obrazu: Thanks.

@Katie: Thank you.