Disrespectful or not?

[corgi_love]

If it was offensive to the religion couldn't they do it in a non-public place? Or ask that cameras are not used or just not allowed during the time of the ceremony?

 

[Lilavati]

I was watching a TV show on the Travel Channel, and it was about Laos. One clip showed a Buddhist ritual. Every day, the Buddhist monks (wearing traditional robes) walk in a procession between the temples. Worshippers line the streets and bring bowls of cooked rice with them. When the monks walk past, they reverently give each one a small bit of rice as an offering. The gifts of rice are the only food the monks are allowed to eat.

Then the cameras showed several Western tourists lining the street. The tourists had their cameras out and were taking pictures of the procession.

That bothered me. Granted, the ritual takes place in a public street. But it seems wrong to me for a bunch of tourists to be snapping pictures of an important, serious religious ritual as if it was some kind of parade. I think that's very disrespectful.

Does that bother anyone else? Or do you think there's nothing wrong with it?

It depends. Usually, if you ask around before a ceremony, you'll find out if photography is allowed. You might not be able to ask the monks themselves, but the locals, or the tourist center will tell you the protocol. Tour books often say whether its welcome or not. Assuming the people taking pictures had checked to see if it was ok, I have no problem with it. If they'd been told not to, there's a problem. When I was in India, I always just asked if it was ok ahead of time . . . from a local, or the people involved, or the tourist bureau. Some times it was, some times it wasn't. Usually, it was, as long as there was no flash. Several times I asked pujaris if it was alright to photograph in temples for academic research. Despite the fact that its generally not allowed, because it was valid research, and because I promised not to use a flash, they were fine with it. The prohibition was mostly due to flashes and to people not being respsctful enough to ask.

As for pictures at funerals, in Varanasi they still cremate corpses on pyres. EVERY guidebook, every pamplet, every person will tell you that PICTURES ARE NOT ALLOWED. You are welcome to watch if you are quiet from a distance, but if you have a camera, the lens cap had better be on and your hands not on it. I went there several times for the peace and quiet (yes, I know that sounds odd) and had my camera with me, and never had a problem, because I never took picutres. I was asked once about the camera and said I didn't want to leave it in my hotel, which just got a laugh. However, then this German fellow showed up and began snapping . . . I think I saved him from being severely beaten and thrown in the Ganges, honestly. Because people were PISSED . . why? He was snapping picutres of them burning their grandmother like it was there for his amusement. They were picking up sticks when I intervened and started yelling at him in English . . . I was saving his butt, though I was very tempted to just sit there and watch what happened . . .

So it can be VERY rude, and even get you hurt (beaten and thrown in the Ganges has happened) to take pictures at cememonies . . . but I don't see anything innately wrong . . . its context. Is it something YOU would be offended at people taking pictures of? Don't take them. Have you asked if its ok? Are locals taking pictures.

I know nothing about this particular ceremony, so, who knows. But if they asked around, and there was no problem, I don't see it as disrespectful.