BY: MELISSA BOODOO
Every year, thousands of Tibetan Buddhists, nuns and lay people gather in the mountainous area of China’s Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in a far-off town called Seda, known as Serta to Tibetans. Every ninth month of the Tibetan calendar a weeklong gathering takes place to mark Buddha’s descent from the heavens. For days, as part of the Bliss Dharma Assembly, the last of four annual assemblies of Tibetan Buddhists, they listen to recitations and chants of the last four prayers. Photographer Kevin Frayer traveled there to photograph the event which took place at the end of October.
Photo By: Kevin Frayer (Getty Images)
Sertar is a Tibetan highland that sits at the altitude of 4,000 metres. The area is extremely remote, and equal parts rugged and breathtaking. For the most part, this area isn’t visited often as the closet airport is at least a 12-hour journey.
Photo By: Kevin Frayer (Getty Images)
Tibetan Buddhist nomads outside of a monastery at the Larung Wuming, home to thousands of monks and nuns.
Photo By: Kevin Frayer (Getty Images)
Thousands of people gathering for the morning chant session.
Photo By: Kevin Frayer (Getty Images)
Tibetan Buddhists visit a shrine near the Larung Wuming Buddhist Institute at the sky burial site.
Photo By: Kevin Frayer (Getty Images)
Monks and nuns prepare tea made from yak butter and milk before a morning chanting session begins.
Photo By: Kevin Frayer (Getty Images)
Nuns and monks preparing better lamps for the annual celebration.
“Everywhere on the Tibetan plateau you can feel Buddhism in the air, from prayer flags on a mountain-top to a pilgrim prostrating on a road,” Says Kevin Frayer, Photographer for Getty Images. “Being Tibetan is to follow the dharma; identity and faith are one and the same.”
Photo By: Kevin Frayer
Photo By: Kevin Frayer
Photo By: Kevin Frayer
Photo By: Kevin Frayer
Image sources: time.com, theatlantic.com