The Door to the Temple
Ladakh, India, (once known as Western Tibet)
The massive temple doors were draped with fraying scarves, a sign of respect among the Buddhists in Tibet. The contrast of the scarves and the deep maroon painted doors plus the brass fittings inspired me to photograph every door we entered and some we didn’t.
A heavy padlock secured the doors and small carved faces formed a decorative cross that might deter any miscreants. (Was that the purpose? I don’t know.) Inside the temple, which was always dark, golden statues gleamed, colorful fabric hung from the rafters, monk’s desks with prayerbooks and brass cymbals waited for the next call to prayers. The wide plank floors were polished by hundreds of years of shuffling feet wearing thick stockings.
Temple Door: Ladakh