Mani Rimdu : Photo Essay

Mani Rimdu at Tengboche Monastery is held ever year at the october fullmoon and tells the story of how buddhism came from Tibet to Nepal.

Practice. October 24.	Beginning of prossesion. October 25.	Mani Rimdu. October 26. Prossesion.	Mani Rimdu. October 26. Prossesion.
Mani Rimdu. Prossesion. 10/26/99	Mani Rimdu. Prossesion. 10/26/99	Prossesion. The Rimpoche or "head" lama of monastery.	A different monk at the "Rilbu" or memorial service conducted on behslf of various scared figures.
The service on Ama Dablam in background. October 26.	And Kangtega to the left.	People who live in surrounding villarges come for the blessing of the monks and the rimpoche.	People who live in surrounding villarges come for the blessing of the monks and the rimpoche.
The Rimpoche...	...and a "parishoner".	The dances begin at 8:30 AM and last at a leisurely pace until 5:30 PM (sunset)	The dances begin at 8:30 AM and last at a leisurely pace until 5:30 PM (sunset)
The dances tell the story of how Budhism came from Tibet to Nepal 1000 years ago.	Guardian of the laws of Dharma one of eight holy guardians of the laws of Buhdism. Lhamo the female spirit.	The drama consists of 14 dances.	The drama consists of 14 dances.
The Messengers of the Guru Rimpoche.	The Messengers of the Guru Rimpoche.	These are the spirits of the four cardinal directions.	These are the spirits of the four cardinal directions.
		The four figures become one and attain enlightenment.	The four figures become one and attain enlightenment.
	The Masters of the Cemetary.	Defender of Faith is one of the eight transformations of the Padmasambhava.	Defender of Faith is one of the eight transformations of the Padmasambhava.
The defender crushes the spirit of the bon religion and converts the people to Budhism.	One of eight guardians of Dharma. The God of war fare who made Yama Raja surrender.	The "Old man".	The "Old man".
The "old man" plays the role of a clown and getting people from audience to show how the monks in the gompa "cook" and live.	The "old man" after 45 minutes with the visitor asks the visitor to carry him into the gompa.	Astoundingly at an altitude of 12.500 feet the visitor is able to comply.	Astoundingly at an altitude of 12.500 feet the visitor is able to comply.
Half way up the stairs the visitor can go no further.