Ladakh - Thiksey Monastery

Thiksey Monastery

The magnificent view of the monastery made every spectator speechless. Lying in the heart of Ladakh valley, Thiksey monastery is centre of Buddhist worship and meditation. Its also a seat of learning for the buddhist monks. Faith flourishes in the Ladakh valley as does the beauty of the unending magnificent landscapes. Its a real treat to eyes to be be in the valley. What heaven would probably be can be felt in the valley of ladakh. Long stretching high rising mountains, with hues of blue, whites and greens. And lies beneath the encapsulated flat lands, a vastness unbound, a playground of freedom, a abode of God. The natural pallete is only broken by the sweet warm colour of maroon clad monks, and the red brick monasteries. No place stands a better chance to be called heaven.

CHANTINGS

CHANTINGS

On my travel to Namdroling Monastery, in Coorg region, I found myself in the middle of a Buddhist festival. The monks were reading out from the holy scriptures and chanting the holy Buddhist hymns. The sound echoed all around and the reverberations could be felt on each object around. Rumbling of their lips, and beats from the drums, synchronised with the rings of the holy bells. The sound rose high above the monastery, and could be heard from a kilometre. Whole area was turned into a huge red ball of positive energy.

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All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

HOLY HYMNS

HOLY HYMNS

Reading from the holy Buddhist scriptures, these monks recite the hymns. It was on occasion of some festival that I found myself in small town of Kushalnagar, Karnataka in mid March.Around 2000 monks had gathered to celebrate that 1st death Anniversary of the founder of the Namdroling Monastery there. It was a magnificent site to see and capture. These monks are Tibetan people who had migrated to India 50 years back, and lovingly stayed among us. It was kind of Indian government to allow them refuge in India. Today Buddhism is re-flourishing in India with help of these monks.

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All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

EYES

EYES - Gazing at you

These two young lady Tibetan monks were passing by in the Namdroling Monastery when I was roaming around in the backyard lawn. Namdroling is the base of all refugee tibetans in the South India. Karnataka Government gave the refugee Tibetans a small land piece in Kushalnagar, to establish themselves.

Since 1969, this place has been homes to thousands of the tibetans. They happily celebrated their 50 years of excile in India and thanked Indian Government for the huge support to their community. Ultimately, it was India where Budhhism took birth. So its our responsibility to preserve the traditions.

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All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

PORTRAITS

Red by choice, Red by Religion, Red by taste

A Buddhist monk with his red tea, sitting in a restaurant in Mcleodganj, Himachal.

FAITH

An old lady Monk offering prayers in a monastery.

Red by Turban

This Rajasthani, red turban vagabond was shot in Hills.