Kangding [康定] Pilgrims 2004

Pilgrims 2004, originally uploaded by mutikonka.

These two Tibetan pilgrims were collecting money on the streets of Kangding in October 2004. They had made the traditional pilgrimage to Lhasa by prostrating themselves at every step and drawing themselves up again - hence the knee pads and clog gloves. Look for the grey callus on the forehead of the man on the left, the result of him touching his head on the ground (kow-towing) at every step.
It usually takes two-thre years to complete this pilgrimage.

By the way I gave then 10 kuai!