For generations, they have lived quietly, dedicating their days to prayer, service, and the simple rhythms of mountain life. And yet, something stirred within them — a curiosity, a longing to see how others were living lives rooted in spiritual aspiration and community.

Auroville, the international township founded on the vision of human unity, had opened its doors and welcomed Karsha Nuns. Their journey from the high deserts of Ladakh to the lush green landscape of Auroville was more than a change in geography — it was a meeting of worlds.

In Auroville, the nuns walked barefoot on red earth, sat beneath banyan trees, and stepped inside the Matrimandir — a silent space of concentration at the heart of the township. They met people from dozens of countries, each striving in their own way to build a life of meaning, connection, and inner growth.

They meditated with children in alternative schools. They shared chants and laughter with artists and farmers. They exchanged stories with seekers from across the globe. And everywhere they went, they brought with them a stillness that touched something deep in the hearts of those they met.

The visit was not only a gift to Auroville. For the nuns, too, it was transformative. Seeing another community also dedicated to spiritual ideals — though expressed in a very different form — deepened their own commitment to compassion, service, and openness.

This meeting between Karsha and Auroville wasn’t planned to prove anything. It was a living example of what becomes possible when we break the barriers of place, language, and tradition — and simply meet, human to human, soul to soul.

In December 2024, a group of ten nuns from the remote Himalayan region of Karsha, Zanskar, embarked on an extraordinary journey to Auroville—a township known for its experiments in sustainable living and human unity. The initiative to bring the nuns to Auroville was a collaborative effort involving facilitators from both regions, who recognized the value of cross-cultural learning and the potential for long-term transformation. The trip involved logistical planning, travel arrangements across rugged terrain and unfamiliar regions, and the kind of open-hearted coordination that makes such exchanges meaningful.

During their time in Auroville, one of the most transformative experiences for the nuns took place at Eco Femme—a women-led social enterprise committed to promoting sustainable menstrual health practices. Eco Femme’s dedicated team welcomed the nuns with warmth, respect, and a shared vision for empowering women through knowledge and skill. At the heart of the exchange was a hands-on workshop where the nuns learned about menstrual health and hygiene—topics rarely discussed openly in their traditional monastic settings. The Eco Femme team not only shared insights into the importance of understanding one’s own body but also introduced the nuns to the concept of washable, reusable cloth pads—an eco-friendly, health-conscious alternative to disposable sanitary products.

With remarkable patience, presence, and focus, the ten nuns participated in the entire process of stitching their own cloth pads. Each nun carefully crafted one pad by the end of the workshop—a symbolic yet deeply personal achievement. Their joy was palpable. For many, it was more than learning a new skill—it was a moment of awakening: about bodily autonomy, dignity, and sustainability.

The experience left a lasting impression. The nuns returned to Zanskar with a strong resolve—not only to continue using reusable cloth pads themselves but also to spread awareness and teach other women and nuns in their region. They recognized that this knowledge could become a force for both inner and outer change in their communities.

Months later, the seeds planted in Auroville are beginning to sprout. Back in Zanskar, the nuns have engaged in active dialogue within their nunnery and are now laying the foundation for a broader movement focused on sustainable menstrual health. Their plans include:
1. Forming alliances with women’s associations in Zanskar and the Leh region, offering joint platforms for menstrual health education and cloth pad promotion.
2. Conducting seminars in schools and institutions focused on sustainability, helping younger generations understand menstrual health with openness and pride.
3. Speaking at local events centered on women’s issues and sustainable living, to normalize these conversations in public spaces.
4. Creating cloth pads not just for personal use but for sale—first in local shops in Zanskar and Leh, with hopes of reaching wider markets across Ladakh, and eventually, other parts of India and the world. This venture holds the promise of making the nunnery more self-sustaining, while spreading an important message.

This story is about much more than cloth pads. It is about breaking silence, building resilience, and empowering women—one stitch at a time. It is about a group of nuns from the high Himalayas finding strength in sisterhood, knowledge in sustainability, and the courage to inspire change in their own quiet, powerful way.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama arrived by helicopter in Padum, Zanskar on 21st July 2025. The people of Zanskar welcomed him with heartfelt joy and reverence. Thousands lined the road from the helipad in Padum to Karsha Phodrang, dressed in their finest traditional attire. Their faces, radiant with devotion, reflected their elation at seeing His Holiness once more. Smiling and waving, he returned their greetings with characteristic warmth.

At Karsha Phodrang, the newly built palace, he was received amidst the resonant sounds of horns, drums, and cymbals—a traditional Zanskari welcome that echoed the deep-rooted spiritual and cultural ties between the region and Tibetan Buddhism.

His Holiness presence in Karsha, home to Zanskar’s largest monastic complex, was a profound blessing not only for the Karsha Monastery and Karsha Nunnery but for the entire community. The visit drew numerous well-wishers to Karsha, bringing renewed attention and spiritual energy to the village.

At the Karsha Nunnery, the nuns—young and old—had long awaited this moment. Their excitement and gratitude were palpable as they finally had the rare opportunity to receive His Holiness’s blessings up close. During his stay, His Holiness met with the nuns, offering them spiritual encouragement and words of wisdom. The encounter was deeply moving and invigorating for the nunnery community.

The visit also brought with it a wave of goodwill. Devotees arrived at Karsha Nunnery with offerings, donations, and blessings, which greatly uplifted the morale of the nuns and provided valuable support to their ongoing efforts.

Adding to the significance of the occasion, the Auroras Eye Films crew was present in Zanskar to document the final segment of their documentary on the Karsha nuns. The timing could not have been more perfect—they were able to capture His Holiness’s teachings. Also it was a rare and profound opportunity to capture the people, culture, and traditions of the Zanskar and Ladakhi regions.

The day of the Dalai Lama’s teaching
On 25th July 2025, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama delivered a profound teaching on Je Tsongkhapa’s “The Three Principal Paths” at the Karsha Phodrang, the open ground overlooking the historic Karsha Monastery—the largest monastic complex in Zanskar. This teaching formed the spiritual centerpiece of the Yarchos Chenmo, the Great Summer Dharma Gathering, jointly hosted by the Karsha Monastery, Zanskar Buddhist Association, the Yarchos Chenmo Committee, and the Gompa Association.

Amidst the majestic backdrop of the Himalayas and the gently winding Zanskar River, over 21,000 devotees—monks, nuns, schoolchildren, and laypeople from across Ladakh—gathered under the expansive sky. The valley transformed into a sacred amphitheater, adorned with fluttering prayer flags, colorful umbrellas, and the traditional dress of the region.

His Holiness received a warm welcome, adorned with a traditional Zanskari Lama’s hat—a gesture that elicited heartfelt applause and underscored his lasting connection with the people of Zanskar. He took his seat beneath a ceremonial canopy on a golden-yellow throne.

Rows of monks and nuns in deep red robes sat in silent prayer, with the Karsha nuns positioned closely together, not far from the throne. Despite the heat of the day, all present remained unwavering in their attention and respect, sitting through the entire teaching with serene patience.

Volunteers, dressed in traditional aprons and monastic robes, moved gracefully through the crowd, serving butter tea and tsampa from large copper kettles—fostering a warm, communal atmosphere that complemented the spiritual tone of the event.

The day left a deep imprint on all present—a rare convergence of timeless teachings, cultural celebration, and heartfelt devotion in one of the most remote and spiritually vibrant corners of the Himalayas.