Rituals and reflection: Nepal artist breathes life into sacred painting tradition

Bajracharya woke up early each morning and did not eat until his day's work was over, adopting a strict vegetarian diet that also excluded garlic, tomatoes and onion when he broke his fast. Photo: AFP

With a shaved head and an empty stomach, artist Ujay Bajracharya dips his brush to line the eyes of the deity Tara as a soothing Buddhist hymn warbles in the background.

The 40-year-old is applying the final strokes to his "paubha" painting, a devotional art form known for its minute detail, intense colours and the strict purification rituals traditionally required of its practitioners.