Monthly Photos　Mar 2024

Photos taken by ILCAA staff and associates are posted here once a month; most of them are taken during their field research in Asia and Africa.

(The copyright belongs to the photographers.)

“Buffet at a Temple”

In Laos, where many people believe in Theravada Buddhism, there are numerous temples particularly in urban areas. In the early morning, monks walk around in the neighborhood in a line to receive donations from neighbors at the roadside. After returning to the temple, the monks have a breakfast; some people bring food to the temple for the meal. They bring various foods such as steamed glutinous rice, stir-fried dishes, simmered food, a vegetable paste called jeo, and fruit every morning. As the monks leave after eating, people gathering in the temple also start to have a meal with others around a table. One day, a friend of mine called this scene the “buffet at a temple.” The “buffet at a temple” with its items varying every day is an interesting entrance to observe the dietary habits of the people.

August 24, 2023
Wat Sianda, Vientiane Capital, Laos
Photograph by Yusuke OMURA