“I have 7 years experience in Tibetan Thanka. I have been doing it since when I was 18. My favorite Thanka is Mandala, it was my first Thanka and even it is easy to draw. I love being in colour with my paintbrush.
In Nepal, many people have this business. It is also one of the main sources of income for many Nepalese. Some people have huge business on Thanka.
My husband has started doing Thanka when he was only 10! He is very good at Thanka.
We moved to Dharamshala several years ago, as Dharamshala is much better than Nepal. Nepal is so dry and dirty. We prefer McLeod Ganj. My whole family is here right now, me, my husband and our daughter who is 9 years old now. We saved for several years to move to India.
Finding the shop was quite difficult and expensive here. Thus, we found this space, not so far from the main road, not so expensive. We don’t have much item. We sell singing bowl and Tibetan Thanka. Soon, we are planning to come up with class.
My husband, and me we don’t have a big dream. This is our dream. Selling thanka. Living our life. Well, we don’t know what our daughter has in her mind. That is something, which we can worry once she grows up.
Life here is peaceful. It is clam and much better than Nepal. I am happy being here. My neighbours, they are all nice people."
Sarmila Magar, Dharamshala.
Interview and photo credit: Kunsang Tenzing.
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