Description:Sometimes the devotional butter lamp candles of Buddhist temples are housed in their own space. Often times, this is after an accident has caused a fire, as all the older structures in Bhutan have a lot of wood used in their construction. Many temples have burned down from accidents over the centuries.
On a lucky day in 2023 during a photo tour of Bhutan, my group and I got to witness what it takes to empty, fill and wick thousands of butter lamps.
The end result is a LOT of heat in a small space. This photo depicts one side of a near square and when even a small percentage of the candles are burning, the heat keeps away the chill outside.
Something like clearstory windows up high let in angled light, striking the butter lamps in small proportions.
Location:Bumthang valley, Bhutan, AZsia
Photograph copyright Peter West Carey. All rights reserved