Skip to main content

The mystery of the woman’s face “tattooed” in a very strange way

On the austere faces of Apatani women in Arunachal Pradesh, India stand out facial tattoos and two black buttons on either side of the nose. These stunning images are the work of photographer Cezary Wyszynski, who is authorized to photograph the Apatani women in their daily lives. Along with the tattoo on the face , the button on […]

On the austere faces of Apatani women in Arunachal Pradesh, India stand out facial tattoos and two black buttons on either side of the nose.

tattoos

These stunning images are the work of photographer Cezary Wyszynski, who is authorized to photograph the Apatani women in their daily lives. Along with the tattoo on the face , the button on the nose is an object that marks the puberty stage of the women here.

tattoos

The Apatani tribe mainly lives in the Ziro valley, in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The ritual of plugging the nose and tattooing the face of women of the Apatani tribe has disappeared since 1970.


tattoos

It is believed that a strange ritual has long been applied to all adult Apatani women in order to protect them from attackers and kidnappers. The Apatani tribal leader says that the most beautiful woman is to wear on the top. big round button nose.

tattoos

The women’s faces are reminders of the tribe’s survival story in the countryside

tattoos

Nose buttons and tattoos are meant to make women look less attractive to the attackers of their village

tattoos

Most of the women with such facial features seem to be of an age close to heaven these days


tattoos

The fading ritual still attracts tourists to the village, as they are mesmerized by the unusual faces

tattoos

The black tattoos that run from the forehead to the chin are intentionally tattooed when women are in puberty

tattoos

Photographer Cezary Wyszynski (centre) was allowed to photograph them

tattoos

In the past, tribal women worked in the wetlands, growing rice and raising fish for food and trade.

tattoos

Signs of old age and tattoos on each woman’s face remind of a bygone era