Samding
Samding sits above the holy scorpion shaped lake of Yamdruk-Tso. Nine islands punctuate the surface of this lake and Samding monastery can be found non one of them.
This Bodong monastery is the only Tibetan monastery to be headed by a female reincarnation; a female abbot directs the community of about 30 monks.
Intensive preparations for a festival in the village below prevented the performance of a full ritual. However, we witnessed tailors preparing colourful costumes for cham rituals and daily prayer in the gongkhang.
The video shows prayer in the gongkhang, a room that houses wrathful protective deities. The monk chants and beats a large drum in order to pacify the protective god Mahakala.
