Meet the kung fu nuns of the Himalayas, kicking out gender stereotypes across the region

The nuns are from the 800-strong Druk Amitabha Mountain Nunnery in Nepal and belong to the centuries-old Drukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism

Their leader encouraged them to learn kung fu and take on traditional norms against women leaving the nunneries, leading prayers or being fully ordained

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Members of the Kung Fu Nuns group demonstrate their skills in New Delhi. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:00am, 29 Nov 2019Updated: 8:00am, 29 Nov 2019

They train with swords and fighting fans after their prayers and morning chants. Meet the Himalayan kung fu nuns using their martial arts skills to challenge stereotypes about women’s roles in the region’s patriarchal societies.

“In the Himalayas, girls are never treated equally and girls are not given equal chances – that’s why we want to push the girls up,” said Jigme Konchok Lhamo, 25. “Kung fu has helped us in taking a stand on gender equality as we feel more confident, we feel strong physically and mentally. We are doing kung fu as an example for other girls.”

The nuns are from the 800-strong Druk Amitabha Mountain Nunnery in Nepal and belong to the centuries-old Drukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.

In 2008 as part of his mission to bring about gender equality in Buddhism, spiritual leader His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa encouraged them to learn kung fu and take on traditional norms that forbid women and girls from leaving the confines of the nunneries, leading prayers or being fully ordained.

Emboldened by their fighting prowess, the nuns travel across South Asia to teach self-defence classes and promote awareness about human trafficking in a region where violence against women is rarely reported.

They also embark on gruelling mountain walks and cycling campaigns to reach out to remote communities.