Buddha
India: Ladakh (Jammu Kashmir) 2005
The interior of one of the many Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh, India. A golden Buddha with a crown or halo sits on a throne. He is dressed in colorful silks and butterlamps burn before him. Remind you of a Catholic or an Orthodox church? Silk banners hang from the beams and the ceiling is coffered and decorated with Tibetan designs.
Interior of Buddhist Temple
Another temple showing the massive log pillars. Silk scarves are draped on the rail in front of Buddha as a form of respect. Our necks were draped with scarves when we landed in the airport at Leh. We were told not to let them touch the ground. It was not easy to obey as we lugged our multiple suitcases to the airport bus. Later, our guide took them and draped them over the first Buddha we met.
A beautiful cabinet with multiple drawers is part of Buddha’s throne or dais. Perhaps prayerbooks are kept inside. It is men who run the monasteries and so you might find almost anything in one of the drawers.
Ladakh is populated by Tibetans and was once known as Western Tibet. The monasteries here, and Buddhism in general, are able to thrive as the Indian government does not harass the believers the way Tibet is harassed by China.
I have many, many photos of the interiors of Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh, but almost none of the monastery interiors of Tibet. I know we entered, but maybe it was too dark or we had to hurry or it was too crowded in there.
Is this good enough, Jerry?