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Copper masks displayed at the wedding altar in Vashist, Manali.
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Vashist is a small village located at 3.2 km from Manali across the Beas River, with natural sulphur hot water springs at an altitude of 6200 ft. Nearby is a pyramidal stone temple dedicated to Vashistha Muni. Every village has its own deity, which they represent with a silver or brass mask. During
festivities and wedding celebrations, these masks are displayed and later used in their rituals and dances. When there is a local wedding in Vashist, Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India, all the people from the village attend the celebrations. The wedding ceremony takes place at the stone temple and the festivities that follow all take place outdoors. The whole village is participates and the businesses are closed down.
Manali is on the Beas River valley and an important hill station in the Himalayan Mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India, near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. It is administratively a part of the Kullu District. There are actually two parts of Manali --New-Manali town is on the banks of the Beas river and the Old Manali village lies east of the Manalsu nullah, which in its present form, is more of a hippie enclave. Manali is named after the Hindu lawgiver "Manu". The word Manali literally means "the abode of Manu". Legend has it that sage Manu stepped off his ark in Manali to recreate human life after a great flood had deluged the world. Manali is popular as the "Valley of the Gods".  |
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© imagesofasia 2007 |
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