The situation between Tibet and China is very critical by now since many years, where episodes of violence are really frequent. In neighboring countries to Tibet.. like India, you will find many colonies of Tibetan refugees, of which largely Buddhist monks. McLeod Ganj is one of the major colonies as well as home of the Dalai Lama.
This is a MANI prayer wheel. It is filled with thousands of Avalokiteshvara mantras "OM MANI PADME HUM". By turning (rigorously to turn clockwise) this wheel once one earns merit equal to the recitation of the mantras filled inside this wheel. It's almost like give life to these words.
Spying the monks of Dalai Lama temple from behind the window, during the prayer time. For a nice pray, a nice fruit juice is always necessary.
This is a monk that lives alone in a small cave on top of a mountain ... only a supply of food, some pot and a book.. To reach this place you need 2 and a half hours of walking through the woods and a very steep and endless climb.
Snapshot to read in tandem with "Ancient traditions". Same city, same day, same monks, but only a few hours after the traditional march in the morning. Technology dependence has arrived here too.
Morning march of the monks in Luang Prabang. A tour through the streets of the city seeking offers. Starting at 5.45 in the morning, sunshine or rain it makes no difference. An old tradition that endures over time.
Snapshot taken in the main street of Pushkar. A road always lively, chaotic and noisy.. among all the shops and restaurants, where sometimes you can meet these musicians that accompany your meal with a nice Indian song... obviously all just for a few rupees.
Religious festival (Taoism) in a small village in the south of Taiwan. This man, wearing a mask for protection, was performing a kind of special dance through the many explosions of the firecrackers on the ground. Surely an impressive ritual.