Dharma Shaman: rituals and endurance
Dharma Shaman: rituals and endurance
The religious Dharma festival is held in the Tongren area of Gansu, a province in north central China. This area is known for Thangkha painters whose works on cotton or silk appliqué usually depict Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala. Tibetan Buddhism is practised here.
The festival held in villages is a ritual of physical strength and pain endurance with participants inserting needles into their flesh and inflicting cuts to themselves to celebrate adulthood.
Asian Trails China’s 3-day programme takes guests to witness this rather unusual event. Sightseeing activities are also included.
