A Day in the Life of Kirti Monastery

These images are from a photo essay that I did on the monks of the Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala for the Associated Press. A large number of Tibetans in Tibet who have immolated themselves since 2009 protesting Chinese rule were monks from the parent Kirti Monastery in Tibet.  The past year has seen an escalation in the number of self-immolation deaths in Tibet. Ashwini Bhatia

Novice monks play with a kitten while eating at Kirti Monastery, Dharamshala. Photo by Ashwini Bhatia

A monk at sunrise at Kirty Monastery, Dharamshala. Photo by Ashwini Bhatia

Monks eat an early breakfast at Kirti Monastery, Dharamshala. Photo by Ashwini Bhatia

Monks study in their room at Kirti Monastery, Dharamshala. Photo by Ashwini Bhatia

Monks study in class at Kirti Monastery, Dharamshala. Photo by Ashwini Bhatia

Novice monks at Kirti Monastery, Dharamshala, with the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas in the background. Photo by Ashwini Bhatia

Monks engage in traditional philosophical debate at Kirti Monastery, Dharamshala. Photo by Ashwini Bhatia

Monks at Kirti Monastery, Dharamshala. Photo by Ashwini Bhatia