Rituals & Traditions
nurturing moments of peace & closure
intertwined in time & space
to connect with
ourselves & those around us
to preserve & pass on
between generations
Varanasi, India
spiritual capital
on the banks of the holy Ganges
home of Lord Shiva
shades of orange & red
the smell of incense
burning funeral pyres
the taste of water from the river
the cycle of death & rebirth
“The Hindu believe that if a deceased’s ashes are laid in the Ganges at Varanasi, their soul will be transported to heaven and escape the cycle of rebirth. In a culture that believes in reincarnation, this concept called moksha is profound. The holier the place, the better the chances you achieve moksha and avoid returning to Earth as a cow or a cricket in your next life.” Source: National Geographic
Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar
refuge in the Burmese hills
the smell of pine trees
in the summer heath
large timber monasteries
burgundy red robes
Buddhist traditions
the taste of fresh strawberries
during 4 o’clock tea
“In Buddhism tonsure (cutting hair) is performed as a part of ordination as a novice (pravrajyā ceremony) and as a monk (upasaṃpadā ceremony). In Myanmar (Burma) most male children undergo the pravrajyā ceremony at about the age of eight or older and spend a few days or months in a monastery.” Source: Brittanica
“In Myanmar women, men, and children of all backgrounds wear thanaka, a pale yellow paste made from pulverized tree bark that is painted artfully or daubed carelessly onto their faces. It’s said to soften the skin, prevent wrinkles and sunburn, and keep mosquitoes away, and it’s even a key ingredient in traditional festival rituals.
The raw material for thanaka comes from specific trees such as Naringi crenulata and Limonia acidissima, colloquially known as wood-apple, sandalwood, elephant-apple, or curd fruit trees.” Source: National Geographic
Tana Toraja, Indonesia
land in the south of Sulawesi
ancient funeral rituals
village gatherings
animal sacrifices
wooden effigies
final resting places
in rocks & trees
