In a remote corner of Rajasthan, a gypsy tribe known as the Satiyaa lives by customs that shock outsiders. Unlike most communities, they celebrate deaths in their families, considering them one of the happiest events in life, while births are met with grief and sorrow.

Comprising around 24 families, the Satiyaa live in temporary shelters along roadsides and open spaces, moving frequently. Their daily survival relies entirely on disposing of dead cattle from the roads, which forms the backbone of their economy.

The women, noted for their athletic build and resilience, sometimes take on roles that outsiders might find unusual, including prostitution, a practice often misunderstood without context.

Anthropologists suggest these practices are deeply rooted in their belief systems, where death symbolizes freedom and life brings responsibilities and suffering. For them, celebrating a death is a tribute to the departed, and mourning a birth ensures the child’s well-being in a challenging world.

This unique worldview turns everything we know about life and death on its head, reminding us how diverse and fascinating human traditions can be.