(always) Learning to See ...

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

9am

September 08 2011

Tibet-2 25 Laru Mountain God Festivals

Hopefully I am finishing this series for now with a portrait of one of the mountain gods. Exactly who is who was something I struggled to work out and is one of my motivations to return and attempt to establish a more complete context to these festivals.

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

TIBET2 series link ©robert van koesveld (CC-BY-NC-ND)

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

September 07 2011

Tibet-2 24 Laru Mountain God Festivals

A delightful smile from a younger dancer wearing the very heavy coral neck and head pieces.

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

TIBET2 series link ©robert van koesveld (CC-BY-NC-ND)

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

September 06 2011

Tibet-2 23 Laru Mountain God Festivals

One of the dancers showing his cheek piercings resting with his colleagues under shade. Men participate in the piercing for several years.

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

TIBET2 series link ©robert van koesveld (CC-BY-NC-ND)

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

September 05 2011

Tibet-2 22 Laru Mountain God Festivals

Two monks pose for a portrait. Actually one may be a lay practitioner rather than a monk. I was told that monks from different orders are welcome at monasteries and that summer is a time when some monks travel.

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

TIBET2 series link ©robert van koesveld (CC-BY-NC-ND)

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

September 04 2011

Tibet-2 21 Laru Mountain God Festivals

A week or more of colour portraits from the festivals

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

TIBET2 series link ©robert van koesveld (CC-BY-NC-ND)

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

11pm

September 01 2011

Tibet-2 20 Laru Mountain God Festivals

A last black and white portrait from the festival again of one of the senior men. Next week some more formal colour portraits.

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

TIBET2 series link ©robert van koesveld (CC-BY-NC-ND)

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

August 31 2011

Tibet-2 19 Laru Mountain God Festivals

this gentleman invited me to join him and a group of other older men enjoying the festival in one of the villages. I guess grey hair helps. We shared a shot of the local alcohol which in this village seemed to be given by the mens children as a gift to the seniors. Alcohol played varying roles in the different villages. In some it seemed to provide some courage to the young men, while other villages were largely dry. In all it was part of the offering and quite a lot was spilt on the ground as offerings to the mountain god.

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

TIBET2 series link ©robert van koesveld (CC-BY-NC-ND)

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

August 30 2011

Tibet-2 18 Laru Mountain God Festivals

One of the senior male villagers. Older men seem to be afforded the privilaged position of sitting up on the ‘verandah’ in front of the temple during these rituals.

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

TIBET2 series link ©robert van koesveld (CC-BY-NC-ND)

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

August 29 2011

Tibet-2 17 Laru Mountain God Festivals

Portrait of one of the lhawa (trance-medium) near the temple doorway.

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

TIBET2 series link ©robert van koesveld (CC-BY-NC-ND)

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

August 28 2011

Tibet-2 16 Laru Mountain God Festivals

The lhawa looks on as prayer offerings and incense branches are burnt amid the dancers. A week of black and white images.

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

TIBET2 series link ©robert van koesveld (CC-BY-NC-ND)

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

August 25 2011

Tibet-2 15 Laru Mountain God Festivals

A young man being bandaged after being cut and then dancing as part of the ritual during the festival (in some villages). Older men proudly showed me their scars from the time when they were involved in this process. Several younger men were cut in this way. I understand this as an offering to the mountain god.

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

August 24 2011

Tibet-2 14 Laru Mountain God Festivals

A young man being prepared with needle/darts for the ceremonies. The number of both men and piercings seem to be requested by the mountain god via the trance medium. The needles are then ‘danced off’ during a vigorous part of the proceedings.

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}

August 23 2011

Tibet-2 13 Laru Mountain God Festivals

Another lhawa in another village who is cutting himself as a gift to the mountain god. This event was a chaotic process with photographers and locals crowding around and then backing off quickly when the very scary lhawa came at them with his whip! I certainly did not enjoy the energy at this event compared to other villages.

Some brief background to the festivals can be found here. Please do not reblog without these links.

_{click the link above and scroll down to comment}