Ngadhu and Bhaga Photo

Photographer’s Note

In the Ngada villages around Bajawa, Flores, ancestor worship is still practiced. The four structures in the lower part of this image are Ngadhu and Bhaga, the parasol shaped and minature houses respectively. They represent ancestors of the people of the village. Ngadhu the male ancestors and Bhaga the female ancestors. Where there are these symbols they can relate to specific houses, which then have little figures on the roof to show that they belong to the ancestor. Hard to see at this size, but there is one on a house near the middle. It is an even more minature house, so the particular ancestor for this house was female, if it was male the figure would be a man.

Interestingly, there was also a Catholic shrine near where this image was taken from as they follow that religion also.

jean11-3, jcdurka1, mortijo, holmertz, leo61, alftrek, dareco has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Morac (20473) 2008-10-30 5:38

Hello Stephen,
Thank you for this interesting note, and for that photo.
This is a good testimony of a culture that we do not know.
Best regards
Marc

jean11-3 (2799) 2008-10-30 7:12

Hello Stephen,I have never seen houses like this before;your notes are very interesting.
A good PoV, and a good composition with the diagonal line leading us through the shot.
Tfs, regards Jean.

jcdurka1 (1940) 2008-10-30 9:43

Nice view of the village in which the diagonal created by the houses is great. Well done,
JC

mortijo (12254) 2008-10-30 10:02

Hi Stephen, Thanks for the excellent note and the nice picture. This helps us to learn something about the world we are living in.
Regards
John

mimagica (617) 2008-10-30 10:23

Hello stephen,
I like this picture because it shows a part of the world unknown to many people.
The POV is perfect.
regards
Michelangelo

holmertz (9681) 2008-10-31 11:20

Hello Steve,
Seeing the thumbnail I thought this might be a long line of deck-chairs. Now I see it's not. Quite interesting architecture and an interesting note. A nice composition with the houses going on a diagonal line in front of the dense forest.
Regards,
Gert

kschanna (6) 2008-10-31 15:49

Hi Steve

Excellent raised PoV, the sharpness is great and the colors are very well evident of the tropical Indonesia. The composition is very well served with a splash of green vegetation behind the bamboo (correction thanks Steve =)) roofed veranda's of the houses

Thanks for sharing

Kamran

leo61 (43406) 2008-11-01 0:13

Hi Steve!
A good shot to show us how people live there.
Good composition with this diagonal row of huts and great contrast with the vegetation.
Regards,Leo

testmaniac (12158) 2008-11-04 21:26

Hello Stephen, very good photo and interesting place. Good POV and colors.

TFS and have a nice day!

Phil

zesopol (284) 2008-11-06 11:53

Hello Stephen,

Thx for sharing this photo with us. This is such a peaceful place. These are the typical houses of Nusa Tengara Timur and Timor-Leste. There was many villages in my homtown of Lospalos, Timor-Leste was once like this. It was all burnt down during the early Indonesian military invasion into Timor-Leste.

In solidarity,
ze'sopol

alftrek (2809) 2008-11-06 17:54

Hi Steve,
Together with your informative notes, this is a very telling photo which is so well composed from an elevated vantage point. Very well set up with the diagonal row of dwelling, excellent details and lighting. This really helps us to learn about the world through photography as TE intended. I wonder you actually spent a night in one of those houses while you were there.

Cheers
Alfred

noborders (14199) 2008-11-07 0:00

Now I regret not to have travelled to this part of Indonesia, too fascinated by the main island and always short of time - normally I prefer the photos with some people around but this ensemble is so incredible that I cannot leave my eyes from it.

Very interesting, fascinating !
Best,
Cath.

dareco (17104) 2008-11-15 20:56

This place is so interesting and unique. An excellent picture! Nice pov and detail. TFS