Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu:

Although Frances Klatzel was familiar with the Rockies in her homeland Canada, she had no clue about the fascinating facets of this Himalayan kingdom. In 1980 she had first visited Nepal. She was charmed with the natural beauty and the people from this region. “I had come here as a trekker but I madly fell in love with everything here ever since,” she said.

Klatzel has been attached with Nepal for more than two decades in many ways. A biologist, a writer and a naturalist, Klatzel has a collection of snapshots of Sherpas’ lifestyle of Khumbu region during her stay there from 1983 to 1989, which are being showcased by Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babermahal Revisited from February 20. The exhibition titled “Ceremony and Stillness” ‘The Sherpas of Khumbu’ has put together 42 selected photographs depicting the blissful and innocent life of Sherpas living on the roof of the world.

The photographs portray the spiritual sentiment of the Sherpas. The rites and rituals Sherpas perform is the endeavour made to see the god that, they believe, exists in human form. Prayers flags on the backdrop of pristine peaks recur in Klatzel’s repertoire. Ubiquitous pieces of colourful cloths dangling on long ropes tied to trees from one ridge to another ridge of the hills must have impressed Klatzel the most. For many of us those fluttering flags can be a spectacular sight but the Sherpas actually communicate spiritually through them. They believe these flags take their prayers to God.

“Sherpas started dwelling in the highland only 5,000 years ago,” Dr Lhakpa Norbu Shrpa, co-director of Himalan Programme, the Mountain Institute, said in his inaugural speech adding, “the place has turned into a tourist hub.”

“The Life of Gaga Yangin” is one of the photographs beguiling to those who live in urban areas. Yangin is walking the yak pasture carrying a wooden container in her hand. Klatzel has written a note: “She stays in a tiny summer hut for two months so that her yak can graze on lush summer grass at 15,000 feet above sea level. She worries about her son who is in Canada for studies since last year.” Like Yangin, many mountain women and men live the life of yakherds and milk producers braving the harsh blows of poverty and nature while their children learn new skills and thoughts and look for a better life.

“Stream and Prayers Flags” and “Lotus on Pond” are other pictures that capture the essential freshness of the mountains. A candid yet insightful glimpse! The exhibition will continue till March 5.