The only photograph of deceased Sherpa Ang Tshiring left in his family's home shows him together with a trekking client. The family sent his pictures, together with rice, butter and salt, to several monasteries to request monks perform puja (prayers) in his memory.
Sherpa Ang Tshiring —
The only photograph of deceased Sherpa Ang Tshiring left in his family's home shows him together with a trekking client. The family sent his pictures, together with rice, butter and salt, to several monasteries to request monks perform puja (prayers) in his memory.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
Ang Tshiring's widow, Ang Riku, says she had to ask for a loan at the market to pay for the prayers and offerings aimed at purifying and earning merit for her husband.
A widow's duty —
Ang Tshiring's widow, Ang Riku, says she had to ask for a loan at the market to pay for the prayers and offerings aimed at purifying and earning merit for her husband.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
Ang Riku climbs the steep hills above Thamo to reach three isolated monasteries where she'll ask lamas to pray for her husband's afterlife and reincarnation.
Spirtual trek —
Ang Riku climbs the steep hills above Thamo to reach three isolated monasteries where she'll ask lamas to pray for her husband's afterlife and reincarnation.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
A photograph of Ang Tshiring's son, Pemba Sherpa, atop Mount Everest holding a picture of his family. "I've summited Everest 14 times and I always brought a photograph of my family with me," he says.
Family first —
A photograph of Ang Tshiring's son, Pemba Sherpa, atop Mount Everest holding a picture of his family. "I've summited Everest 14 times and I always brought a photograph of my family with me," he says.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
The lama of Charok monastery and Ang Riku engage in the customary ritual of refusing the generosity of others before accepting it.
"I insist." —
The lama of Charok monastery and Ang Riku engage in the customary ritual of refusing the generosity of others before accepting it.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
Ang Riku spins a prayer wheel at Laudo monastery, repeating the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" to accumulate merit for her husband.
Making merit for the deceased —
Ang Riku spins a prayer wheel at Laudo monastery, repeating the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" to accumulate merit for her husband.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
Ang Riku prepares a copper bowl with rice, money and a ceremonial scarf to present to the lama for the puja in honor of her husband.
Offerings and prayers —
Ang Riku prepares a copper bowl with rice, money and a ceremonial scarf to present to the lama for the puja in honor of her husband.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
Thamo is a village of 50 souls located in the Thame Valley, far from the tourist track of Nepal's Everest Base Camp trail.
Thamo —
Thamo is a village of 50 souls located in the Thame Valley, far from the tourist track of Nepal's Everest Base Camp trail.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
In Nepal's Thame Valley, the sacred is palpable. There's an abundance of pagodas, monasteries, stone walls carved with mantras, wheels containing prayer scrolls and sacred shrines. Thousands of colorful flags flutter in clusters, offering prayers to be carried along by the wind.
Sacred walls —
In Nepal's Thame Valley, the sacred is palpable. There's an abundance of pagodas, monasteries, stone walls carved with mantras, wheels containing prayer scrolls and sacred shrines. Thousands of colorful flags flutter in clusters, offering prayers to be carried along by the wind.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
At Charok, a monastery located high on the steep hills above Thamo, a single female lama lives an ascetic life, immersed in nature, isolated from any human settlements.
Charok —
At Charok, a monastery located high on the steep hills above Thamo, a single female lama lives an ascetic life, immersed in nature, isolated from any human settlements.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
The Sherpas consider education the most important opportunity they have to live a better life. Every day, third-grader Nimga Sherpa walks down the valley from her village to attend classes at a school in Namche Baazar, one hour away.
Education is a priority —
The Sherpas consider education the most important opportunity they have to live a better life. Every day, third-grader Nimga Sherpa walks down the valley from her village to attend classes at a school in Namche Baazar, one hour away.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
Butter lamps must remain lit throughout the 49-day period between lives (Bar-do), at the end of which the spirit of the deceased will reincarnate. The daughter of Ang Tshiring, Nima, attends to the butter lamps in the prayer room.
Butter lamps —
Butter lamps must remain lit throughout the 49-day period between lives (Bar-do), at the end of which the spirit of the deceased will reincarnate. The daughter of Ang Tshiring, Nima, attends to the butter lamps in the prayer room.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
Pemba places a spoonful of tsampa (roasted barley flour) on hot coals on the windowsill as food for the spirit of his deceased father.
An offering for his father's spirit —
Pemba places a spoonful of tsampa (roasted barley flour) on hot coals on the windowsill as food for the spirit of his deceased father.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN
Standing 6,623 meters high (19,685 feet), Mount Tamserku towers over the Thame Valley.
Mount Tamserku —
Standing 6,623 meters high (19,685 feet), Mount Tamserku towers over the Thame Valley.
Andrea Oschetti/CNN