How Small We Are

I have flown over the Himalayas many times in my life, specially during the last twelve months. This is Mt Everest I captured on Thursday, January 30, 2008. It was shrouded in clouds and suddenly clouds moved away giving this opportunity.

The view is beautiful and very scary. No camera can capture its majestic presence and you have to see it with your own eyes to feel the chilling effect. I remember my first sight of Mt Everest 10 years back even today. It never goes away.

These great mountains also remind me something else - that is how small we humans are compared the nature’s creations. We look so ordinary compared to these mountains. Of course the man has conquered many of these mountain peaks, may be a few brave explorers. But you have to see these to realize, how small we are.

Chorten Kora - going round the Stupa

The history of mythology is not only as old as that of the human race, but also very much interwoven. From the ancient Ramayana to Iliad and Odyssey to modern day classics; Ayesha, The Lord of the Rings to Eragon, - to name a few, all have proved repeatedly how much we love living that mysticism. The film industries all over the world have recreated and enlivened the world of surreal mysticism albeit for commercial reasons, tapping the man’s desire to experience that world.

The Bhutanese live this every moment of their lives. Their beliefs are mythical and mystic. Mountains are sacred and inhabited by holy spirits and the ones who attempt to enter their habitat is repelled, punished and return with a mysterious decease or a person who dirties a holy well, gets ill and the cause or remedy unknown succumbs to a mysterious illness. Even the educated will consult a spiritual Lama, a priest before deciding on personal and professional moves.

Now the film industry in the country approaches such topics, the same way the west have been doing in the past. Chowden Kota- going round the stupa or cons tabulation is a new movie in town I went to see with a couple of friends, and enjoyed very much assisted by sub-titles.

The story in a nut shell is like this. A remote village Yangste in eastern Bhutan is demonized by an evil spirit, and the frightened villagers approach a high Lama for advice, who subdues the demon spirit. He asks the villagers to build a “stupa” and also to find a pious maiden to be enshrined within, who will meditate on behalf of all humans and sentients. This happens to be a pretty princess in the neighboring Arunachal province, India. She is approached by villagers on the day before her wedding and on her wedding day, on the advice of a deity who comes in a dream, she decides to sacrifice her love and life for their benefit. She meditates inside, enshrined and leaves this world forever on the fourteenth day.

The written history of Chorten Kora does not mention the princess or her sacrifice. But its her legend not the history the people of Bhutan want to believe and celebrate every year after year

I am no film critic but for me it was a good movie with beautiful natural settings, good acting and music, despite not having high tech wizardry that the west depends so much on, making this movie, a fresh experience, a change from the usual.

A Snow “Rain” in Thimphu

It’s snowing in Bhutan and the country is celebrating. – A traditional holiday on the first day of snow. So I am writing this from an empty office.

For a country in the Himalayas, snowing is important. It adds wetness to its already parched and dry mountains. And later the snow will melt and feed rivers. In an economy dominated by agriculture, a good snow fall raises the hopes of the nation.- it is “raining”.

The current snowfall is expected to continue. Snow piles will create road blocks and bring traffic to a standstill. The network of road over the mountains will be the most affected. Thimphu will be cut off from other parts. The country will grind to a halt as infrastructure and support services are ill equipped to cope up with such pressures.

There is always another side- a twist at the end.

Well, why worry about all that now..? I am packing my bags to go to a friend’s for lunch.

It is snowing heavily now.

Let’s celebrate!!!

In Pursuit of Happiness

A group of young Lamas in Bhuntang, Bhutan.