Bhaktapur thru’ local photogs’ eyes

BHAKTAPUR: Think about Bhaktapur and the images of women in hakupatasi, potter’s wheel, traditional jatras and the beautiful Durbar Square come to mind. The image of Bhaktapur as a traditionally and culturally important city is still intact — which is why photographers often love to capture these facets of the city. And this passion of photographers is reflected in Khwopagraphy — a photo exhibition that began on June 19 at Bhaktapur Durbar Square. It showcases images of various aspects of Bhaktapur seen through the eyes of local photographers.The snapshots on display are a result of photography trainings — basic and advanced level — organised by Bhaktapur Jacyees Family for those interested in photography. As such the exhibition features images by 24 photographers who had taken part in the trainings. It was a platform to allow photography enthusiasts to “learn technical know-how of taking photographs” as per one of the photographers Ujwol Chandra Buddhachary.And their learning is reflected in the diverse images ranging from eye-catching landscapes to colourful celebrations of jatra to moods of Bhaktapur’s elderly population that are on display.

Laxmi Prasad Ngakhusi, one of the trainers, has captured a village as seen from Changunarayan — a green farm, traditional Newar houses and trees form part of the photograph. Roshan Suwal has captured an old Newar woman lying beside her charkha (spinning wheel). Elderly men are talking to one another on the occasion of jatra in a photo of Devendra Singhkhwal. You will also get to see a young girl in traditional hakupatasi carrying a puja thali in another photo.

Interestingly the courtyard of Bhaktapur Durbar square seems to be of the most interest to many photographers and they have captured it in their own ways. People are walking in the Square during the daytime in two different photos of Barsha Nakarmi and Suman Prajapati. It is the scene of dusk with the sky turning almost orange and silhouettes of temples in Umesh Dandekhya’s image. But Bikesh Prajapati’s snapshot of Durbar Square during the night time is the best — lights illuminating the monuments in the area and the image is pleasant to look at.

The exhibition is on till June 22 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Source: The Himalayan Times

Date: 21 June, 2014