Early evening stroll around Bodhnath...

On our next to last day in Kathmandu, I decided to venture back to Bodhnath, the huge stupa and Tibetan Buddhist religious center literally outside the back door of our hotel. I paid my 150 rp. entrance fee and joined the hundreds of people out for their early evening circumambulation around the stupa. Following in their footsteps and observing their actions, namely the turning of prayer wheels, chanting prayers, fingering prayer beads, and touching their foreheads to many of the small images of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha that dot the outer wall of the stupa, I came away with a deep appreciation for how this simple stroll plays an important role in the daily religious and social interactions of the community. It is amazing to me that hundreds of miles to the north, people are "restricted" in their ability to practice their faith, while here - in the evening shadow of the Buddha's watchful eyes - the Tibetan culture is both accessible and unhindered…

From all four angles, the eyes of Buddha are watching over the community as day slowly turns to night…

In the Ajima Shrine, the candles burn bright…

These gals were deep in conversation on one corner of the stupa's upper walkway…

Down below the upper walkway and behind the stupa's main wall, these folks were busy cleaning candle holders…

Missed these when I came two days ago...  Platforms were arranged behind the stupa's outer wall and below the upper walkway for the faithful to pray... Some, like this gentleman, read scriptures and chanted while others repeatedly prostrated their selves to Buddha…

Guess there were too many people moving about on the upper walkway… The girls moved around one of the large statues for a bit more privacy…

Two very different approaches to the pursuit of enlightenment… One is deep in prayer while the other is dog-gone tired..

Out for an evening stroll; a bit of prayer with a lot of conversation…

Observing the action down below from a perch on the upper walkway…

Turning the prayer wheels in the stupa's outer wall... I saw (and took a picture) of this gent two days ago, cementing in my mind the notion that these rituals are deeply held traditions that define culture, community and belief…

Temporarily moved due to construction... The wall that these masks and stone carvings were on two days ago was undergoing renovation of sorts, so they were moved to the front of the pile of bricks… 

Behind the Ajima Shrine there is a small but busy courtyard with prayer wheels and bells... These temple dogs are not fazed in the least by all the noise, movement or crowds…

A small prayer wheel of her own in one hand, prayer beads and a handbag in the other, this woman strolls around the stupa clockwise chanting as she goes…

The entire community is out for a stroll, prayer and socialization.... Chunman and I saw this same scene played out when we took our early morning walk around the stupa…

A couple more temple dogs sleeping away the hours before dark…

Prayer flags fluttering in the evening breeze, sending the mantras printed on the flags skyward… while the watchful eyes of the Buddha gaze out over the multitudes strolling around the square...

All pictures taken with Nikon 1 camera and 18.5 lens.