Penelope Gan | Photo Blog just some cl!cks by me …
Travel
Chaam Atsaras
© Penelope Gan – All Rights Reserved – Phodong Monastery – Sikkim, INDIA
Similar to other religious theatrical performances in other parts of the world, Atsaras (jokers) plays an important part in Chaams. Their movement in the dance are not governed by any religious rule but rather they are granted considerable freedom of movement up to [...]
Mojari Jootis Kolhapuris
© Penelope Gan – All Rights Reserved – Jaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA
Mojaris, Jootis and Kolhapuris ‘floods’ Rajasthan, Delhi and Punjab with production dating back to the period of Kings and Queens. During its heydays, Jootis were heavily embroidered with real gold and silver threads and decorated with previous gems and pearls. But, with the passage of [...]
Kagyed Mahakala Chaam
© Penelope Gan – All Rights Reserved – Phodong Monastery – Sikkim, INDIA
The Kagyed Mahakala Chaam (dance of the Great Protector) is performed by monks on the same days across a few Kagyupa monasteries in Sikkim, Ladakh and Nepal in honour of the Mahakala after seven days and night of rigorous reading of the Buddhism [...]
Vandalism | Art
© Penelope Gan – All Rights Reserved – {some}backstreet – Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
“I think graffiti writing is a way of defining what our generation is like. Excuse the French, we’re not a bunch of p—- artists. Traditionally artists have been considered soft and mellow people, a little bit kooky. Maybe we’re a little bit more like [...]
Malaysian Chinese Opera
© Penelope Gan – All Rights Reserved – Performers Backstage – Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Chinese opera has been reduced to nothing more than an incidental ‘performance’ limited to temple celebrations and festivals that are often associated with the spiritual need to appease and honour deities. Couple with poorly constructed makeshift stages, unhygienic living conditions, worn-out costumes [...]
Sculptured Dough
© Penelope Gan – All Rights Reserved – Jonker Street, Malacca, MALAYSIA
Sculpturing with dough is a folk art that is a dying tradition and little known off outside China. Based on known written records, dough sculpturing is believed to have dated back to the Han Dynasty (206BC – AD220) where they were made as sacrifices [...]
Raising Wind Horse
© Penelope Gan – All Rights Reserved – Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA
Luang Ta. It ‘carries’ the ‘Wish Fulfilling Jewel of Enlightenment’. Hence, it is the most prevalent prayer flag flown.
Found strung along mountain ridges and peaks high in the Himalayas to bless the surroundings, prayer flags is apparently unknown in other branches of Buddhism [...]
Chandi Chowk: Chaos . Cargo . Coolies
© Penelope Gan – All Rights Reserved – Chandi Chowk, Delhi, INDIA
The nerve centre of commercial activity that dates back to the time of Shah Jahan’s Mughal empire, Chandi Chowk’s chocked up narrow lanes never ceases to fascinate.
Despite what appears to be a chaotic sight at first glance; the sea of people, knots of dangerously [...]
Visiting Luang Phor Khoon
© Penelope Gan – All Rights Reserved – Nakonratchasima, THAILAND
Look closer. This is not Sak Yant – the protective tattoos believed to not only ward off evil but have abilities to even stop bullets. Nor was this taken at Wat Bang (Buddhist Temple) Phra – the place flocked by thousands of people from Thailand and [...]
Women Weavers: Kully Valley
© Penelope Gan – All Rights Reserved – Old Manali, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA
What appears to be distinctively distracting as you drive down the lovely and pristine road connecting Kullu and Manali with the roaring Beas river flowing pass and alpine landscape soaring way way above the skyline, are countless of shops selling mufflers, stoles and shawls, [...]