Marilyn Silverstone Lama and acolytes surprised by visitors in the Lakhang Sarp of the Tashichho Dzong. On the left, tabular victory banners called gyaltsen, symbolic of the Victory of Liberation won by Buddha, hang i (...)
n front of the altar. Built in the 17th century, the Dzongs are a series of great fortresses, which are part monastery, part administrative-centre. Thimphu, Bhutan. 1964. © Marilyn Silverstone | Magnum Photos
Marilyn Silverstone A carved and painted shrine at a wayside water source. The letters spell the mantra of compassion. The six colors represent the six regions of Samsara (worldly existence). Such shrines are meant to (...)
be a constant reminder of pure vision, speech, and mind, giving passerby a chance to earn good karma. Near Gangtok. Sikkim, India. 1960. © Marilyn Silverstone | Magnum Photos
Marilyn Silverstone The banner, called Sridpa Ho, is a diagram of the secret astrological mechanism that governs the physical world. Displayed at the start of any activity intended to advert evil spirits, the banner i (...)
s carried at the head of a procession of Lamas during a Sikkimese New Year ceremony. Gangtok, Sikkim. 1963. © Marilyn Silverstone | Magnum Photos
Marilyn Silverstone A Pemayangtse Lama performing the Black Hat dance during a Sikkimese New Year ceremony. Enacted at the end of the cold year, this rite can only be performed by a spiritually attained tantric Lama, (...)
the ‘Vajra Master’. Every detail of the costume has mystic power to resist the influence of evil spirits. Gangtok, Sikkim, India. 1963. © Marilyn Silverstone | Magnum Photos
Marilyn Silverstone Long prayer banners, called Dar Chok, printed with mantras, flutter over a cremation ground. When a person is cremated, up to 108 of these banners are erected so that the air passing through them w (...)
ill spread their mantras for the benefit of the living and the dead. The finial represents the sword of wisdom, which cuts through ignorance to attain the Buddha mind. Thimphu, Bhutan. 1964. © Marilyn Silverstone | Magnum Photos
Marilyn Silverstone The wedding of the Maharaja's son. In the zenana (women's quarters of the City Palace), the Maharani of Jaipur (in pink), the groom's sister, the Maharani of Baria, and other women await the formal (...)
visit of the Prince before he leaves for his wedding. Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. 1966. © Marilyn Silverstone | Magnum Photos