April 25th 2015 - a massive earthquake shook Nepal, bringing great loss of life and the devatation of many ancient temples and sacred monuments. Among the latter the Great Stupa of Boudanath suffered serious and destabilising harm. The renowned Nepalese photographer, Mani Lama, who has lived his entire life in Boudha, was profoundly affected by the damage done to the much loved site and began taking daily photographs of the Stupa as it was being carefully dismantled and rebuilt over the coming year and half.
Inspired by theses photographs, a group of Mani's friends, all of whom have a long association with Boudanath and the Stupa itself, created this book from them, recording its history, its meaning to Buddhists all over the world and revealing in pictures the skill and reverence with which it was restored once morre to its extraordinary architectural perfection. Bouddha: Restoring the Great Stupa, Mani Lama, Vajra Books, Hardcover, 248 pp, $68.00
The acclaimed Nepalese photographer, Mani Lama, has been taking remarkable pictures for more than thirty-five years. A pioneer, whose beautiful postcards of Nepal helped promote Neapl as a tourist destiantion, he has worked with and provided visual documentation for many NGO's (UNICEF, UNDP, WFP, WHO, UNMIN, GTZ, CARITAS, Save the Children USA and UK). He has travelled throughout Asia and many other parts of the world. He lives and is based in Nepal.
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