Festival, culture, people and portraits in the Himalayas. In the western part of Sikkim, a state of India, Buddhism is followed widely. They perform once a year in the month of April a traditional festival called Bomkor/Bumkor. During this time the followers carry the holy manuscripts from the renowned Pemayangtse Monastery nearby Pelling through the villages.
The manuscripts spend each night in chosen houses of the followers in various villages. The hosts decorate their houses very colourfully in the form of flowers, Thangkas, prayer flags. The senior monks from the monastery are also invited. They offer their blessings through their rituals and chantings in these houses.
During these visits and overnight stays the host family cooks lavish meals and almost the entire village is invited for lunch as well as dinner.
