The painting in the gyalpo has continued apace. Shashi and Chakra have been assisted by Sangha and Prajit as well as the RWI fall group to paint the altar and frescoes.

Mixing the natural pigments with ‘glue’ from boiled sheep hide and water, Chakra conjures up a range of shades from half a dozen basic colours. Each morning they are reheated and gently stirred to remove the lumps, with more water or glue added as needed without losing their brightness or hue.

The work is painstaking, requiring a steady hand and concentration.

Painting will be finished by the end of this year, before it gets too cold to work any longer,  to allow the consecration of the gyalpo.