#palcho

Coming down from the upper levels of the Pelkor Chöde Monastery assembly hall, this man is carrying a small bag of རྩམ་པ་ (tsampa, a roasted flour, usually made of barley). Tsampa is one of the common offerings in Tibetan Buddhist temples. Later in the day, the making of tsampa will end up becoming an interesting interlude in our journey.

Between wooden planks, wrapped in silk, and bound with straps, loose-leaf holy texts line some walls of the assembly hall.

Back inside. So what do you do with a giant thangka when it is not on display outside for a festival? Fold and roll it up neatly. The thangka is a holy and venerated object. The silk scarves resting on the thangka are left as offerings.

Let’s step outside for a moment. The Pelkor Chöde Monastery is surrounded by a wall which climbs and runs the nearby hillside. That large building alongside is used to display giant thangka during festivals.