Nepal; shops, Kathmandu, 1986

Nepal; shops beneath Bhimsen temple, Kathmandu, 1986. This important three-tiered shrine is dedicated to Bhimsen, the god of traders and artisans. The ground floor is occupied by shops, most of which sell tourist trinkets and are generally managed by more affluent traders than those who sell on the streets. Bhimsen, a form of Shiva, has been popular in the Kathmandu Valley since the 17th century. When there was active trade with Tibet, his image was carried to Lhasa on the trade route every 12 years.