Buddhist and Tribal Images: West Nepal

Taken during November 1969, these Buddhist images are mostly from Tarakot in southern Dolpo. The red stupa has auspicious Buddhist emblems adhering to its walls. The smaller white stupa sits astride the only entry path into the village of Dzong, the main village in Tarakot. It is decorated with various Buddha figures and a mandala of Vajrasattva. Stones carved with mantras and a water-driven prayer wheel are also noted. Most of the other figures represent local deities, protective animals, heads of animals herded to attract wealth, protection on bridges and dangerous paths etc. Of special interest are two pictures of a cairn of small pebbles and cloth strips tied to a timber, which Tibetans offer when they have negotiated a dangerous ascent. Two photographs from the stele stones at Dullu show evidence that nowadays, below once Imperial inscriptions, chickens and small animals are sacrificed to different and more bloodthirsty gods