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People
Chaam: Dorjee Lopon
Often mistaken as the most important element of any Chaam, the Dorjee Lopon, or Single Black Hat Dance is performed solo by a dancing lama who adorns the heavy but miraculous and magical black hat that transports the wearer to a particular state of manifestation. Legend has it that the Black Hat was made from the hair of female angels and offered to the 1st Karmapa.
Dancing Lamas: RolChaam
The Rol Chaam is unique to Sikkim; having been introduced by Chogyal Chgdor Namgyal in Tsuklakhang Monastery. The Rol Chaam which signifies a musical offering to the presiding deities of the locality, as well as the monastery it is performed in, is performed by 12 dancers after the recital of a one-page prayer book.
Chinese Opera Facial Makeup
Dating back to Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) Dynasties Chinese Opera face makeup plays a symbolic artistic function of expressing commendatory and derogatory connotations and that of differentiating benevolence and malevolence. Spending hours to depict the stereotypical characters they play, opera actresses and actors applies the face paint with horse-hair Chinese brushes themselves.
Malaysian Chinese Opera
Chinese Opera is now an incidental ‘performance’ limited to temple celebrations and festivals associated with the need to appease and honour deities. Stylised language, symbolism and feudal stories performed are irrelevant in today’s context, but the poliferation of gloablisation has brought new entertaintment.
Chinese Opera Musician
One of the three oldest dramatic art forms in the world, the delivery of the Chinese Opera’s beautifully written and lyrical dialogues are accompanied by melodious tunes produced by skilled musicians on traditional musical instruments like the Erhu, gong and lute.
1 of 10 Million Blind
More than 1.5% of India is blind. Of these 15 million, almost two thirds are blind due to cataract where surgery is one of the most cost effective health interventions known and most operated eye condition with highest rate of success and satisfaction. Barriers to access cataract surgery includes financial, fear, distance, lack of awareness and support, all of which are more prevalent in rural and peri-urban areas.
Cancer Is A Bitch
More than 100 million skin cancers are diagnosed annually. However, only 3% of skin cancer cases are melanoma, which causes more than 75% of skin cancer death. Unfortunately, melanomas in Asians tends to be at advanced stages during diagnosis due to its occurance on non-exposed skin with less pigmentation.
I am HIV+
In April 2009, 6 people stood tall and proud and uttered these simple but profound words that would change their world: “I am HIV+”. Through their eyes, an educational process took shape that helped spread the message of awareness and inspired others to come forth and lead a life worth fighting for.
Women Weavers: Kully Valley
20,000 people are engaged in weaving in the Kullu Valley, majority being women affliated with cooperative society operated by women for women. With these cooperatives, women benefit not only from economies of scale but general management knowledge that cuts across the entire value-chain of the weaving industry.
The Halal Meat Butcher
The term halal (حلال ḥalāl) and haraam are applied to many facets of life but the most common uses of these terms is in reference to meat products, in particular the slaughtering method used. Whilst the prescribed method of Ḏabīḥah (ذَبِيْحَة) has been applied for centuries, debate on if its inhumane continues despite scientific evidences suggesting otherwise.
Chandi Chowk: Chaos . Cargo . Coolies
Chandi Chowk’s chocked up narrow lanes never ceases to fascinate: sea of people, knots of dangerously low cables dangling across buildings and streets, seething mass ‘traffic’, and countless of specialised bazaars that will match your imagination. Coolies who snakes their way through chaos with their laden cargo tells their story.