Bhutan 2016
Dochula Pass, Bhutan. These are a few of the 108 memorial chortens that were built at this 10,200 foot (3,100 meter) pass to honor the Bhutanese soldiers who were killed in a 2003 battle to expel Indian insurgents. The insurgents were using bases in southern Bhutan to attack across the border into India.
Above the Punakha Valley, Bhutan. Typically terraced rice fields in the steeply sloped mountains.
Chhimi Lhakhang Monastery, Bhutan. An array of prayer flags towers over this "Monastery of the Divine Madman," which was named after maverick saint Lama Kunley, who blessed the site in the 15th century.
Sopsokha, Bhutan. Some of the rice fields that surround the hilltop Chhimi Lhakhang Monastery, with the village in the background.
Sopsokha, Bhutan. A farmer reads aloud from a biography of the Divine Madman, so named for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism, including some that were bizzare and shocking, with sexual overtones.
Sopsokha, Bhutan. A woman farmer (who was also chewing doma or beetlenut) listens to the reading of the Divine Madman's biography. He is credited with encouraging the use of phallic symbols, including phallus paintings on the wall of village homes. This advice is widely followed in the villages of Bhutan.
Sopsokha, Bhutan. In the village just below the temple that honors the Divine Madman, the wall of a home is decorated with a painted phallus, as he encouraged. Phallus representations are widely considered in Bhutan to help ward off evil and to bring good luck and fertility.
Chendebji Chorten, Bhutan. The main chorten was built in the 19th century by a Tibetan lama in a Nepalese style. In India (and some other countries), a chorten is referred to as a stupa.
Chendebji, Bhutan. A roadside waterfall.
Nimalung Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A black hat dancer performs in the courtyard of the monastery. Elaborately decorated black hats are a key custume element of the Dance of the Black Hats (Shanag).
Nimalung Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A spinning black hat dancer.
Nimalung Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. In the Dance of the Black Hats with Ritual Daggers (Shanag Phur), the dagger in the right hand of a dancer - a symbol of transcendental wisdom - is used to overthrow demons and purify and protect the place.
Nimalung Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A spinning black hat dancer.
Nimalung Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. This black hat dancer is entering the courtyard from "backstage" in the monastery.
Nimalung Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A black hat dancer with accompanying musicians in the background.
Nimalung Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. The black hat dance also represents the story of the assasination of an anti-Buddhist Tibetan king by a monk who had hidden his bow and arrows within the voluminous sleeves of his garment.
Nimalung Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. In the Drummers from Drametse dance, twelve men wearing animal masks beat handheld drums as they dance. This dance originated in the Drametse Monastery in eastern Bhutan.
Nimalung Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. One of the Drummers from Dramtse (Dramitse Nga) joins that famous dance from backstage, announced by a young monk with a gong strike.
Nimalung Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A Drummer from Dramtse dancer, with captivated villagers looking on. This dance was declared a "Masterpiece of the World Intangible Heritage" by UNESCO in 2005.
Nimalung Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. Yhe Dance of the Black Hats with Drums (Shanag Nga). This dance signifies the victory of religion over its enemies.
Nimalung Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A young woman observes the dancing.
Jakar, Bhutan. An elderly man with prayer beads spins a temple prayer wheel.
Jakar, Bhutan. A devout elderly woman after spinning a large temple prayer wheel. She carries a small one, as well.
Lhodrak Kharchu Monastery, Bhutan. Monks wearing special ceremonial hats provide horn accompaniment for a prayer service.
Lhodrak Kharchu Monastery, Bhutan. A prayer service participant enjoys the free food afterwards.
Lhodrak Kharchu Monastery, Bhutan. A prayer service participant, after the service.
Lhodrak Kharchu Monastery, Bhutan. A prayer service participant, after the service.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. The festival dance area and the dancers are dwarfed by a massive thongdrel on the left. A thongdrel is a large applique religious image that is typically unfurled only for teschus or festivals such as this one.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A black hat dancer, with the massive thongdrel in the background. Note the tshechu attendees lined up for a blessing ceremony along the base of the thongdrel.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. Tshechu attendees waiting in line for a special blessing ceremony touch the thongdrel reverantly.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. As part of the ceremonies, monks are served food and drink.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A young tshechu attendee seeks a blessing from touching the thongdrel.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. Locals in their finest dress wait in line for a special blessing.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A mother with her child approaches the thongdrel with reverance.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A local tshechu attendee.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A black hat dancer paints an abstract.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. Participants in the Dance of the Black Hats with Drums (Shanag Nga).
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A tshechu dancer creates an abstract pattern.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. Late in the day, dancing is suspended so that the thongdrel can be lowered. A line of men rolls the massive fabric at the bottom as it is lowered from the top.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. Taking down the thongdrel by rolling it from the bottom. Eventually, these workers carry the fully rolled thongdrel on their shoulders off to storage.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. The tshechu drum corps.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A tshechu drummer.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. Most tshechu dances are centuries old. This one commemorates the 2003 victory of the Bhutanese army over Indian insurgents. The battle was personally led by the fourth king. The dance was originally performed at Dochula, where 108 chorten honor the fallen from that battle.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. Tshechu attendees shield themselves from the rain.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A Dochula victory dancer.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A grizzled tshechu attendee.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. A rapt audience member.
Kurjey Tshechu, Bumthang, Bhutan. In the Dance of the Terrifying Deities (Tungam), dancers dress in brocade and wear masks of wrathful dieties.