Faces of Nepal

By : Oumaima Gannouni

I am a third-year ECLA student, and I am currently in Nepal since the end of last September, interning as a photojournalist. I am intrigued by the Nepali culture and its people, so I never forget to carry my camera with me wherever I go. There is always something wonderful to witness and discover in this country!

Nepal’s landscape is diverse, and so are the cultures, religions, and ethnicities of the people who inhabit it. Nepal borders Tibet on the North and India on the South, East and West. From the point of view of population, Nepal is a mix of Mongols and Aryans. It is very rewarding to see people looking extremely different holding hands during various religious and cultural celebrations. Nepal’s harmony is incomparable and just overwhelms me personally, as someone who comes from a region where fear and tension are growing among people of the same race and religion (Tunisia).

Photojournal:

  • Two ethnically different slums along the river were divided by a temple. A religious ceremony was held that day where a priest walked this man through a number of rituals.
  • A Hindu temple located on the riverside was filled with Monks sharing the same living space. Very welcoming and friendly; they are never bothered by outsiders walking in their yard.
  • He took shelter from the sun next to me after collecting some useful things from the garbage. I must say language barriers should never stop you from making a friend.
  • This lady had beautiful eyes, I told her so. She was too shy to look straight at the camera but this photo is my reminder of this humble beautiful woman.
  • You’d be surprised how a lot of Nepalese people take the time to read the news, no matter what backgrounds they come from.
  • “Uncle, photo?” I walked away after he nodded his head sideways to finally realize that’s a yes in Nepal. I run back to him and he smiles nodding his head.
  • She was busy playing with her feet as her mother was sewing near her. Then the water man came with his loud trolley, and her focus shifted completely towards him.
  • She was walking her goats around a hill outside of Kathmandu. We asked her a question that pleased her a lot. She proudly responded that she only had sons.
  • A hot day’s play was disrupted by a foreigner’s lens. They tried to hide from me while laughing so much because one of them was always kept without cover.
  • In the village everyone loves seeing a foreigner. Best part they are more excited to learn that you come from Kathmandu rather than Africa.
  • She might look calm but before this photo she was chasing all the kids at the temple. The smell of alcohol was strong as she approached me to share my cookie treat.
  • I was so happy to find Muslim kids outside of their school. I tried to impress them with my Arabic knowledge, but it appears they were learning Urdu instead.
  • She was living in a small room in the courtyard of a deserted temple. Her slow movements and welcoming smile transmitted a peace and calmness that I felt so strongly.
  • He was playing with his granddaughter right on the edge of a cremation boards. I wasn’t comfortable to even walk by the site but everyone seemed so happy over there.
  • “He smiles all the time!” said the neighbor’s sons.
  • A group of women were sorting plastic bottles collected from the garbage. The smell was hideous, but it didn’t stop them from having a great laugh at the grumpy baby.
  • Never too old to gain some extra rupees. She was accompanied by her daughter and granddaughter on the side walk, each selling a different item.
  • I stopped asking questions why people lived on the streets or whishing they’d end up under a proper roof. The streets need a good hearted gentleman such as this one.
  • I like this temple as a big welcoming family lives on its grounds. They are wonderful people and the grandmother loves to do her granddaughter’s hair differently each day.
  • This photo was taken on the last floor of a temple where some children found a peaceful space to play away from a big group of Chinese tourists.
  • Uncle was making mustard oil. He took off some of his clothes to show me a scar on his back. I thought it was an awkward yet amusing ice breaker.
  • In the village side people no matter how busy or exhausted you might think they are, they would make the time to stop and salute a foreigner with a large smile.
  • I found a school one day between some rice fields. The school boys had a challenge; he caught the biggest fish of the day with his bare hands.
  • I call him “the rain maker”! I found him one day as I was seeking refuge from the rain by the sound of his sang prayers and improvised wooden instrument.
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.