Bhaktapur: Durbar Square Celebration
Nepal is a country of contrasts. In Kathmandu, smog chokes the air giving legitimacy to the face masks individuals wear. Untamed traffic moves in a chaotic, life threatening circle. Evidence of the earthquake that struck the region a year ago still abounds--tent cities, long lines for gasoline, electricity shortages, poverty, piles of rubble and lack of first world services is common place; this is a 3rd world country!
But when you leave Kathmandu (and you will want to) you are stunned the Rhododendron forests, the breathable air, the majesty of the mountains, the kindness of the people, the simplicity of their lives and you remember why you came to this country in the first place.
We spent two days in Kathmandu. On our second day we toured the Unesco site of Bhaktapur and Durbar Square. Under the rubble you can see this was once a beautiful town center, but the earthquake hit this area quite hard so many of the buildings are being stabilized by scaffolding. It happened to be the Nepali New Year so we were fortunate to participate in the celebrations. Parade goers dressed in vibrant red costumes traveled from temple to temple making offerings of cookies, crackers, flowers and incense.
You'll have to forgive the number of photos, I just didn't know how to capture it all without some many.
It's fascinating to see the clothing they wear - so different from ours, so colorful and complex to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteStopping by from photo Friday, and inviting you to join us - Won't you please come share your photos at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2016/04/worlds-best-meatloaf-recipe-wordful.html? I'd love to have you join us each week!
Never apologise for taking so many photos Brooke, I could look at them all day. Nepal is somewhere I long to visit, it's so sad that the earthquake hit so hard and caused such devastation but wonderful that you found such a colourful and joyful festival to be part of. (BTW I'm the same with photos, I can never choose so I publish loads!)
ReplyDeleteVery colorful. It's amazing how resilient humans are.
ReplyDeleteThere's not such thing as too many pictures, especially when they are gorgeous like yours! What a nice experience it must have been.
ReplyDeleteLove! I am always to chicken to take people photos that I don't know!
ReplyDeleteWe have never been to Kathmandu and I doubt we ever will but your photos are lovely. It is good to see that there are still beautiful sights after the devastation.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are simply stunning! Your photo journalist style really captured the emotion and made me feel like I was witnessing the parade. Thank you for linking up with #WeekendWanderlust
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful pictures make me feel like I'm really there. I love how you captured the mood and emotions of all the people. :D
ReplyDeleteWonderful street photography, and love the colors to brighten what must be a very difficult existence.
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