Drigung Til Monastery... Fish and main chapel

It is evening. The entire courtyard is ringed with onlookers, and about 40 monks are sitting in a semi-circle, surrounding several large piles. One pile appears to be a stack of blankets covered in white scarves... one is a pile of foodstuffs... another a pile of clothing, placed in such a way that it appears like a person squatting on the ground... There is a heavy smell in the air, similar to baking bread, but it is dried juniper and tsampa mixed together being burned as incense in large bowls around the semi-circle. There is a very elderly monk who sits in the center, leading all the monks in chanting. This is obviously some part of the funeral proceedings... we watch from behind quietly...no one seems to notice let alone mind our presence