11. Garpo: The Mani Stone Carver of Tashiding (2022)

35 minutes 2022
Kunchok Lodroe, better known as Ajo Garpo, spent over 50 years of his life carving sacred Buddhist mantras on stones at Tashiding monastery, one of Sikkim’s most sacred locations.
In this intimate short film, Ajo Garpo introduces us to his art and takes us on a tour, relating his interpretation of the sacred sites of Tashiding. This oral history of Tashiding’s animated landscape represents the collective memory as passed down the generations.
Initially recorded in 2008, this film was produced in memory and honour of both Ajo Garpo and his creations, of which sadly, little remains today.
Cinematography: Phurba Tshering Bhutia
Editing: Phurba Tshering Bhutia
Anthropologist and Project Coordinator: Dr Anna Balikci-Denjongpa
Produced by the Director, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok, Sikkim, India
With the financial assistance of the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India

[@drala108]

I adored this person and saw him at work many times. So happy I have one of his small mani carvings.

[@_ananda_]

Debería ser proclamado Patrimonio de la humanidad. Una extraordinaria persona a la que tuve el honor de conocer y hablar con él en el 2005
Gracias por todo, nos queda tu fascinante legado para recordarte eternamente 🌟🙏🌿🌷💚

[@shyonnu]

Thank you so much Tukjeche. 🙏🙏🙏 Absolutely wonderful and precious 💐

[@MLPaech]

Fantastic and beautiful the Mani stones in Tashiding Monastery......

[@janaw514]

It was a privilege to meet him
In his element

[@chopellepcha7867]

The last part really did broke me 😢 unexpected
Om Ami Deva Hri..

[@user-bf6gr8ug9d]

A documentary of a missing link 👌👌

[@TheGrandfather365]

Beautiful documentry 🙏

[@sanjoggurung3904]

Wow

[@sangaysherpa5564]

Om Mani padme hung

[@jigmeybhutia1946]

🙏🙏🙏.Ajo kheno

[@theveganpedalist190]

A Lost piece from past restored.

[@pemabhutia6784]

🙏🙏👌🏼