Tattoo enthusiasts in Nepal’s Lalitpur thronged the Himalayan Tattoo Summit on Satruday (September 14), where dozens of tattoo artists set up stall showcasing their inking prowess.
Artists at the summit which started Friday (September 13), presented modern designs with traditional and neo-traditional elements, offering a fusion of gods with modern aesthetic values.
“Until recently, people didn’t have much knowledge about designs but now people do their research and then come to get inked,” said Sumit Rai, a tattoo artist who is better known by his artist name Jitsu Rai.
Clients lined up stalls, getting inked with designs incorporating representations of Hindu elephant god Ganesh, Living Goddess Kumari, Lord Buddha, Hindu monkey god Hanuman and other comical as well as religious characters fusing it with modern concept.
Tattoo culture in Nepal is one of the oldest traditions practiced widely by the aboriginal tribes of the Himalayan nation. While traditional tattoos involved using coal and milk as colours for the ink, youngsters say they lacked precise details, linking it more to the communities, spiritual beliefs but the modern tattoo designs focus more on the aesthetics.
(Reuters)