Three monks from Key monastery, Spiti, walking towards a roadside shrine at Rongtong, where they will perform a small religious ceremony. Photographer: Sutherland, Patrick
A young monk wearing an ancient wooden mask during the dance festival at Key Monastery, Spiti. Photographer: Sutherland, Patrick
Scope & Content:
'A young monk wearing an ancient wooden mask during the dance festival at Key Monastery. These Bakhtuk act as jokers during the performances, teasing the older monks by mimicking them and generally entertaining the audience by punctuating the long solemn dances with touches of humour. They also...
Three Buchen dance at the end of a performance in Lhalung, Spiti. Photographer: Sutherland, Patrick
Scope & Content:
'Three Buchen dance at the end of a performance in Lhalung. Buchen are travelling religious performers who spread the message of Buddhism and the Dharma amongst the common people through entertainment. Song, dance, humorous plays and prayer are the vehicles for their teaching. The Khokpo – somet...
A Buchen performance of the play Nyella (Hell), Lhalung, Spiti. Photographer: Sutherland, Patrick
Scope & Content:
'A Buchen performance of the play Nyella (Hell). During the play, half naked actors dressed as demons drag a number of people in front of a tribunal where they have to account for their lives and to be judged on their deeds. A scale is used as a measure. People found to have lived bad lives will...
An altar erected on the roof a house in Lhalung, Spiti, for a performance of a stone breaking ceremony. Photographer: Sutherland, Patrick
Scope & Content:
'An altar erected on the roof a house in Lhalung for a performance of a stone breaking ceremony. The altar consist of a background of thankas (painted religious cloth scrolls), and a carved wooden travelling box on which are placed a statue of Thangtong Gyalpo, offerings of bowls of barley and w...