Monks (and one nun) during a three-day festival at the Gompa Kupa (Kyipar), monastery.

Reading from long loose-leaf books kept in rectangular boxes, the monks chanted, beat drums suspended above them, and occasionally stopped to blow conch shells and trumpets or drink tea.

This went on for hours, with remarkably exact synchronization of the various participants. From time to time, though, someone would mess up and they would all break up in giggles.