World Aids Day in McLeod Ganj

Despite being just a small village in the Indian Himalaya, with such an international and politically aware community, it seems appropriate that World Aids Day is recognized in The Ganj.

It´s a deliciously sunny and warm this morning as I head towards the Main Temple. I arrive just after 9am where morning prayers are finishing off and a dozen or so officials from the Tibetan HIV centre on Bhagsu Road are setting up chairs and distributing T-shirts,red ribbons and information pamphlets.



monks watch on

Hard data has been difficult to collect, but since the Chinese occupation and increasing Han settlements the rate of prostitution had risen dramatically throughout Tibet, not least targeting the 300,000 Chinese soldiers deployed in the area.

The organizers have arranged a Fun Run to neighbouring Bhagsu and back. There are about 40 or so runners aged between 15 to 40, and although predominantly Tibetan, there are dozen Indians and about the same number of passing international travellists.

Speeches are delivered in Tibetan, first by the Project Leader and then a five minute speech from Tenzin Choezom, Miss Tibet 2009.

Miss Tibet 2009

The runners who have now been waiting in the sun for almost an hour are keen to move, and Miss Tibet is finally given the scissors to cut the starting ribbon at around 10.50am.

at the starting line

I boldly approach Miss Tibet and ask her if she would give me a few poses against a nearby tree. Not looking 100% comfortable, she does acquiesce and I try to put her at some kind ofease by blathering on about what a special honour it is to take her portrait. Suddenly everyone in a possession of camera come running over and the shoot is hijacked almost as soon as it has begun.