As you head east from India’s Kashmir Valley, across the mountains to Zanskar, the Muslim influence gives way to a Buddist world. There are lots of monasteries. Most have elaborate paintings and tapestries. Sometimes we were allowed to quietly sit and photograph even during prayers; sometimes we couldn’t photograph anything at all. The monasteries often seem like a combination church, old-folks home, and orphanage, as well as art museum and (run-down) palace.
I’d planned a trip to Kashmir in 2016, but local political “unrest” (with daily stonings on the streets of Srinigar, and a governmental no-travel order) sent us elsewhere. Kashmir is far-north India, at the Pakistani border — the one mostly-muslim region in mostly-Hindu India. India and Pakistan have been fighting over the region for 70+ years. Even Google Maps just shows a bunch of dotted lines for the disputed borders. The population’s loyalties are split, too.
Because of all that tension, the area is patrolled by thousands of police and military troops. Indian “National Guard”-like troops are EVERYWHERE: driving through Srinigar, you’ll see a pod of these camouflage-wearing machine-gun-toting troops every minute or two. We were advised not to talk to them or photograph them. Those 2016 stonings were local teens (likely prodded by Pakistani separatists) throwing rocks at those heavily-armed Indian troops in the streets. Not a good scene. Happily, that’s all calmed down (for now), so I had no qualms about visiting.
Much of the area’s culture is shaped by its muslim population. We visited multiple mosques (some stunning; some not; most not allowing photos inside). In Kargil, we saw part of the Ashura rituals (where they mourn and symbolically punish themselves over the death of Muhammad’s grandson Hussein (in the year 680) – an event that largely gave rise to the split between Sunnis and Shias. The big crowd and the black banners were from those somber events.
Another great event for a great Houston Charity. I think I’ve been involved with Child Advoocates events and fundraisers for 25+ years now. Proud to have chaired this event since its founding — each time with founding title sponsor MRE Consulting, and each time with awesome race director Angie Parker. Check out prior years’ posts to hear why CAI is a great charity you ought to support (or find something similar in your own town).
My photography can be hit and miss through no fault of the model/subject! The best images are below, with a second big batch of pictures below that. Forgive the algorithm that picks which ones are big or small! And forgive me if I didn’t get your cute kid’s picture (In my defense, there were lots of ’em out there.)
It’s year NINE for our Superheroes Run — benefiting Child Advocates of Houston, and as always presented by MRE Consulting – thanks to good friends Mike, Shane, and Dru. MORE THANKS to all the other sponsors, friends, volunteers, race crew, and CA staff who made this happen. We’ve raised over $1 million for a great cause by doing this event each October since 2013. I’ve bragged, begged, and preached about it every year (See, e.g., 2016, and 2019), so I’ll get right to the cute photos.
NOTICE that there are 4 pages of thumbnails. (As always, I need to point out that these are NOT photos of the kids in state custody that are the beneficiaries of CA’s services. We don’t publish their pictures. These are Houston kids whose families brought them out to have fun and support a great cause.)
