Neighborhood temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, decked out for the Hindu holy holiday of Dashain. Celebrated for 15 days, the national religious festival falls in either September or October every year, depending upon the lunar calendar, with the first, seventh, eighth, ninth and the tenth days being the most important. During the holiday, all government offices … Read more
Tibetan Thangka paintings at a shop next to the Swa Chapu Ganesh Buddhist Stupa in the Chhetrapati area of Kathmandu, Nepal. These pieces show the mandala associated with the Kalachakra Initiation, which the Dalai Lama gives twice per year in locations all around the world. Artists train for years to produce the delicate Thangkas, which … Read more
Novice monks at the Sakya Tharig Monastery near the UNESCO World Heritage Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. The youngsters stopped cleaning a courtyard of tumbled bricks and debris long enough to pose for a photo. Their serious expressions changed into broad grins when I showed them the photo on my camera’s display. The Sakya Tharig … Read more
Typical street scene in Kathmandu, Nepal. The overloaded van bus with people riding on the roof is typical of public transportation in Nepal, not only in the city, but also on cross-country trips. As with most Asian countries, traffic is willy-nilly, with cars, buses, truck, motorbikes and bicycles paying little attention to maintaining lanes or … Read more
