Woman selling flowers, Asan Tole Buddhist temple, Kathmandu, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Asia

Sadhus, Hindu holy men, at Pashupatinath, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu, Hindu holy man, at Pashupatinath, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Asia

Woman and baby, cloth shopkeeper in temple square, Bodhnath, Kathmandu, Nepal

Potters Quarter, Bhaktapur (Bhadgaun), Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Asia

Children playing, Chitwan, Terai, Nepal

Durbar Square, Patan, Nepal, Asia

Karma Lobsang Tibetan man spinning prayer wheel, Tashiparkhel Tibetan camp, Pokhara, Nepal

Local people crossing the 160m long suspension bridge, Trisuli Center, Bandare village, Trisuli Valley, Nepal, Asia

Sherpa woman, Gapchu monastery, Solu Khumbu, Nepal

Octagonal Krishna Temple built by Pratapa Malla in memory of two of his favourite queens, Durbar Square, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Patan, Bagmati, Nepal, Asia

Women and children walking on a country road, carrying bundles of firewood, Chautara, north of Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

A dye trader offers his brightly coloured wares in a roadside stall in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

A trekker pauses for a break on the edge of a glacial stream on the way to Mera Peak, a popular trekking peak in the Khumbu Region, near Mount Everest, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Nepali porter carries a heavy load using traditional wicker basket and tump headband in the lower Hingku Valley, close to Lukla and Mount Everest, Khumbu region, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

A high altitude porter carries a heavy load using the traditional basket and tump (headband) used by the Nepali porters, under Mera Peak, 6420 metres, a popular trekking peak in the Khumbu region, near Mount Everest, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

A porter crosses a river using a fallen log whilst carrying a heavy load up the Hingku Valley, near Lukla, south of Mount Everest, Nepal Himalaya, Nepal, Asia

A climber tackles a difficult boulder problem on the glacial moraine at Tangnag, near Mera Peak and Mount Everest, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Nepalese prayer flags above a highway with a motorcycle driving by, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Asia

Early morning market in the street, Bhaktapur (Bhadgaun), Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Portrait of a Saddhu, Hindu holy man, Kathmandu, Nepal

Durbar Square, Patan, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Asia

People walking round base of stupa during Lhosar, the Tibetan and Sherpa New Year festival, Bodhnath Buddhist Stupa, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bagmati, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Main street in the Nepalese city of Charikot, Nepal, Asia

Head and shoulders portrait of two children, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

A holy woman laughing at Pashupatinath Hindu Temple in Nepal

A young boy in a checked shirt and red knitted hat in the doorway of a fruit and vegetable shop in Patan, Nepal

Nepalese girls (possibly sisters) enjoying orange ice lollies in rural Nepal.

A woman from the Kathmandu valley in Nepal wearing nose jewels in the traditional way. Her head is covered with a tartan shawl.

A holy man crouching at the Pashupatinath Temple on the Bagmati River in Nepal. It is one of the holiest Hindu Temples in the world.

Schoolboys at work during a Biology lesson at a school in Kathmandu, Nepal

Portrait of a sadhu, Hindu holy man, Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Nepali man carrying produce in wicker baskets, with Garuda statue, Bishwan Nath Mandir and Bhimsen Mandir temples dating from 17th century behind, Durbar Square, Patan, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Elaborately carved doorway, north of Tachupal Tole, Bhaktapur (Bhadgaun), Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Asia

Lhokta paper being soaked and dried in sun in wooden frame on a U.N. funded project, Bhaktapur (Bhadgaun), Nepal, Asia

Sadhu smoking nirvana at pashupati nath temple, nepal

Humla, shamans. shamans central to ceremonial life, with their spirit possession high point of every collective ritual. Their white wool tufted turnans match description of zhangzhung’s priests

Sadhu doing yoga at hindu temple pashupati nath, nepal

Nepal. Sonam & boom praying at charnel grounds. Humla. Vajrayana is tantric mahasiddha, lives fearlessly in terrifying places like remote jungles charnel grounds. nyingma lamas perform ritual at cremation grounds. lama rattles damaru, a small ritual drum to have origins in - shamanism. damaru, used as a tantric device to summon gods ward evil spirits, once made from human skull bones dried human skin as a reminder of impermanence of body. other lama, boom blows a kangling, a human thigh-bone horn. kangling is used in exorcism is capable of gods demons. Traditionally, best bones a kangling come from brahmans, particularly sixteen-year- brahman girls-or from tigers

Anuradha Koirala, proclaimed winner of CNN Hero of the Year 2010, warmly greeted upon her return. Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal. A woman whose group has rescued more than 12,000 women and girls from sex slavery has been named the 2010 CNN Hero of the Year. Anuradha Koirala was chosen by the public in an online poll that ran for eight weeks on CNN.com. ?Human trafficking is a crime, a heinous crime, a shame to humanity,? Koirala said after being introduced as one of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010. ?I ask everyone to join me to create a society free of trafficking. We need to do this for all our daughters

Anuradha Koirala holds up her CNN Hero of the Year 2010 award as she is warmly greeted upon her return. Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal. A woman whose group has rescued more than 12,000 women and girls from sex slavery has been named the 2010 CNN Hero of the Year. Anuradha Koirala was chosen by the public in an online poll that ran for eight weeks on CNN.com. ?Human trafficking is a crime, a heinous crime, a shame to humanity,? Koirala said after being introduced as one of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010. ?I ask everyone to join me to create a society free of trafficking. We need to do this for all our daughters

Chatral senge dorje rinpoche seated on a tiger skin, yonglesho, Nepal

A young sadhu reads holy scripture near fire. Worship is part of daily life. Some sadhus chant mantras. gayatri mantra is of several mantras that sacred incantations or mystical formulas of ancient literature. gayatri mantra given by brahma mentioned in rigveda is named after consort of brahma: o that glory- of savitri most high. Oh divine us mediate upon. it inspire understanding. goal of recitation is to attain realization. Practice lead mind into a transcendental union with deity.Pashupatinath, kathmandu, nepa

Nepal. Ritual, sonam/boom. Lobsangs cremation. Humla. traveler reached of journey! In freedom of infinite he is free from sorrow, fetters that bound thrown away, burning fever of life is no more,oesays dharmapada. Lobsang having spent whole life preparing moment of death, finds liberation on february 14, 1986. Extensive ritual follows cremation-traditionally a forty nine period, sonam lama rattles damaru. A small ritual drum to have origin in - shamanism. damaru, used as a tantric device to summon gods ward evil spirits, once made from human skull bone dreid human skin as a reminder of impermanence of body. Boom lama blows a kangling, a human thigh-bone horn. kangling is used in exorcism is capable of gods demons. Traditionally, best bones a kangling come from brahmans, particularly sixteen-year- brahman girls-or from tigers. On makeshift altar rest chhome, votive lamps filled with butter, cups of water, grains, tormas, holy food made of barley meal decorated with medallions of butter offered to gods. Alone, boom lama continues prayers of deceased

Mani mask dancers at mani festival marks setting in of spring season in humla. masked dances diversion a long-established part of bonpo religious ceremonies.Dance Is means by which supernatural forces be brought down to world of. Dance recalls a time when distance between spirits samll. Humla, north-west nepal

Butter lamp offerings to the Bagmati River flowing next to Brahmayani Temple. Newar Village Women wears "Haku Patasi" to the Temple. (Haku Patasi is garb worn by Newari woman). Bhaktapur, Nepal

74 year sadhu stands on meditates. Nepal

Some religious people reach Brahmayani temple measuring their body length. To do so, a person prostrates on the ground and extends his clasped hands above his head. An assistant puts a few grains of rice at the end of the clasped hands as a marking point. Then, the man steps to this marking point and then prostrates again. Bhaktapur, Nepal

Pema chunzum, born february 14, in year of earth monkey, kathmandu nepal

At tnorbutse,monks at triten norbutse vigorously debate philosophy, melting away incorrect views like butter in. Bonpo monks debate at triten norbutse monastery. Nepal

Community and home based care service is one of the critical care and support services provided to people living with HIV in Nepal. CHBC Teams provide basic health services, social, emotional and spiritual support, reinforcing the concept of ?positive living? and reducing stigma and discrimination in the community. Doti, Nepal

Hindu scripture with cymbals, Bhaktapur, Nepal

Some religious people reach Brahmayani temple measuring their body length. To do so, a person prostrates on the ground and extends his clasped hands above his head. An assistant puts a few grains of rice at the end of the clasped hands as a marking point. Then, the man steps to this marking point and then prostrates again. Bhaktapur, Nepal

Bonpo conch shell, t. Norbutse. young monks, wearing ceremonial hats, blow on conch shells to call monks to prayer. yellow cylindrical object behind them is a victory banner, symbolizing monasteries defeat of negativity evil intention on premises

Some religious people reach Brahmayani temple measuring their body length. To do so, a person prostrates on the ground and extends his clasped hands above his head. An assistant puts a few grains of rice at the end of the clasped hands as a marking point. Then, the man steps to this marking point and then prostrates again. Bhaktapur, Nepal

A Pilgrim reads his Hindu scripture. Bhaktapur, Nepal

Black dancers norbutse- black dance, known as magyu tshogcham, depicts eight goddesses manifestation of dakini kyema wotsho, nepal

A Pilgrim reads his Hindu scripture. Bhaktapur, Nepal

Some religious people reach Brahmayani temple measuring their body length. To do so, a person prostrates on the ground and extends his clasped hands above his head. An assistant puts a few grains of rice at the end of the clasped hands as a marking point. Then, the man steps to this marking point and then prostrates again. Bhaktapur, Nepal

Community and Home Based Care (CHBC) teams also provide comprehensive care and support services including Prevention of Mother to Child Tansmission (PMTCT). Dhangadi, Nepal

Trekker on local bridge crossing river, Annapurna region, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Burning hide, nepa

Cremation at pashupati nath temple, kathmandu,nepal

Nepal. Triten norbutse. Rigorous debate is a critical activity lamas at triten norbutse monastery. Through this method we begin to know meaning of texts with greater precision

Paddler performing freestyle routines on a set wave. Trisuli, Nepal

Paddlers carry their kayak to the start point for Downriver challenge. Paddlers race from a Le Mans style mass start, head to head down a stretch of challenging class 4 whitewater. Trisuli, Nepal

Paddlers carry their kayak to the start point for Downriver challenge. Paddlers race from a Le Mans style mass start, head to head down a stretch of challenging class 4 whitewater. Trisuli, Nepal

Tourist enjoying water rafting. Trisuli, Nepal. Trisuli, Nepal

Paddlers carry their kayak to the start point for Downriver challenge. Trisuli, Nepal

Tourist enjoying water rafting. Trisuli, Nepal

White Water rafting. Trisuli, Nepal

Paddlers race from a Le Mans style mass start, head to head down a stretch of challenging class 4 whitewater. Trisuli, Nepal

Asian woman wearing traditional clothing

Nepalese woman in front of Annapurna, Pokhara, Nepal, Himalaya, Asia.

Sadhu, holy man with turban and necklaces, Muktinath, Mustang, Nepal

Sadhu, holy man, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Painter creating a Thangka picture, Changu Narayan, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Asia

Painter creating a Thangka picture, Changu Narayan, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Asia

Traditional funeral, untouchable priest of the lowest caste tending pyre, Pashupatinath, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu, religious man in Nepal

Traditional funeral, people standing around a body on a pyre, while an untouchable priest of the lowest caste spreads wet reed over the body, Pashupatinath, Nepal, Asia

Children in the mountainous countryside surrounding Nagarkot, Nepal, Asia

Produce seller in the historic centre of Patan-Lalitpur in Kathmandu Valey, Patan, Nepal, Asia

Potter at work on an outdoor pottery square in Bhaktapur, Nepal

Bisket Jatra Festival, Nepalese New Year, Bakthapur, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Viennese climber Geri Winkler on a ladder overcoming a crevasse of Khumbu Icefall, ca.5600 m, Mount Everest, Himalaya, Nepal

Locals buying and selling fish and vegetables in the market in the old town of Bhaktapur, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Day labourer, hard labour in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Hinduist Sadhu, Holy Man, Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Hinduist Sadhu, Holy Man, Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Agricultural landscape, women working in green terrace rice fields, in Upper Marsyangdi valley, Bahundanda, Lamjung District, Nepal, Asia

Native woman spinning sheep's wool with traditional spinning wheel in front of house, Ghandruk, Kaski District, Nepal, Asia

Native woman walking along Mani Wall and spinning prayer wheels, Kagbeni, Mustang District, Nepal, Asia

Native woman knotting carpet using sheep's wool in front of house, Ghandruk, Kaski District, Nepal, Asia

Portait of a Sadhu, holy man, sitting at a shrine at Pashupatinath temple, Kathmandu, Kathmandu District, Nepal, Asia

Man is working in green terrace rice fields, Upper Marsyangdi valley, Bahundanda, Lamjung District, Nepal, Asia

Native woman weaving material on loom, open air, Jhong, Mustang District, Nepal, Asia

Native woman spinning sheep's wool with traditional spinning wheel in front of house, Ghandruk, Kaski District, Nepal, Asia

Priest with big sword sacrificing water buffalo, Hindu festival Dashain, Gorakhnath temple, Gorkha, Gorkha District, Nepal, Asia

Nepalese woman, portrait, Pokhara, Nepal, Asia