23 October 2015

Spotting Tilakas in Bangkok

Navaratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga. The word Navaratri means "nine nights" in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Durga aka Devi aka Shakti are worshipped. Navaratri is an important major festival and is celebrated all over India, Nepal, and even Thailand. Despite the fact that many Thais are Buddhists, they combine easily the Hinduist pantheon of colourful gods with Buddha's teaching that god does not exist.

During Navaratri, many Thai beauties line up at Bangkok's Sri Mariamman Temple aka Wat Prasri Maha Umathewee in order to receive a very distinctive blessing from one of the resident Hindu priests: a red "Indian" tilaka is added to their pretty Thai faces…

people, street portrait, headshot, Facing the World, © Matt Hahnewald, Thai beauty, tilaka, beautiful, Navaratri Festival, Thailand, Bangkok, Wat Prasri Maha Umathewee, Wat Khaek, Sri Mariamman Temple, Hinduism in Thailand

people, street portrait, headshot, Facing the World, © Matt Hahnewald, Thai beauty, tilaka, beautiful, Navaratri Festival, Thailand, Bangkok, Wat Prasri Maha Umathewee, Wat Khaek, Sri Mariamman Temple, Hinduism in Thailand

people, street portrait, headshot, Facing the World, © Matt Hahnewald, Thai beauty, tilaka, beautiful, Navaratri Festival, Thailand, Bangkok, Wat Prasri Maha Umathewee, Wat Khaek, Sri Mariamman Temple, Hinduism in Thailand

people, street portrait, headshot, Facing the World, © Matt Hahnewald, Thai beauty, tilaka, beautiful, Navaratri Festival, Thailand, Bangkok, Wat Prasri Maha Umathewee, Wat Khaek, Sri Mariamman Temple, Hinduism in Thailand

people, street portrait, headshot, Facing the World, © Matt Hahnewald, Thai beauty, tilaka, beautiful, Navaratri Festival, Thailand, Bangkok, Wat Prasri Maha Umathewee, Wat Khaek, Sri Mariamman Temple, Hinduism in Thailand

people, street portrait, headshot, Facing the World, © Matt Hahnewald, Thai beauty, tilaka, beautiful, Navaratri Festival, Thailand, Bangkok, Wat Prasri Maha Umathewee, Wat Khaek, Sri Mariamman Temple, Hinduism in Thailand

people, street portrait, headshot, Facing the World, © Matt Hahnewald, Thai beauty, tilaka, beautiful, Navaratri Festival, Thailand, Bangkok, Wat Prasri Maha Umathewee, Wat Khaek, Sri Mariamman Temple, Hinduism in Thailand

people, street portrait, headshot, Facing the World, © Matt Hahnewald, Thai beauty, tilaka, beautiful, Navaratri Festival, Thailand, Bangkok, Wat Prasri Maha Umathewee, Wat Khaek, Sri Mariamman Temple, Hinduism in Thailand

people, street portrait, headshot, Facing the World, © Matt Hahnewald, Thai beauty, tilaka, beautiful, Navaratri Festival, Thailand, Bangkok, Wat Prasri Maha Umathewee, Wat Khaek, Sri Mariamman Temple, Hinduism in Thailand

people, street portrait, headshot, Facing the World, © Matt Hahnewald, Thai beauty, tilaka, beautiful, Navaratri Festival, Thailand, Bangkok, Wat Prasri Maha Umathewee, Wat Khaek, Sri Mariamman Temple, Hinduism in Thailand


The tilaka mark is made of sandalwood paste which has supposedly a cool, soothing effect and the fragrance helps to maintain a pure and clear mind. Additionally, as a "third eye", it might provide perception beyond ordinary sight; boy, oh boy...


Portrait photographs of Thai beauties with red tilaka marks in Matt Hahnewald's

Portrait photographs of Thai beauties without tilaka marks in Matt Hahnewald's

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tilaka girls really knock me out
They really leave the west behind

Unknown said...

So many Asian girls have cosmetic surgery nowadays.

Anonymous said...

Nice work Matt!
And a good way to meet girls.