Harmonious spiritual practices in Malaysia

Family members throwing earth onto a casket before they leave the burial site, as featured in 'A Given Path'. (Pic by Nafise Motlaq) — Family members throwing earth onto a casket before they leave the burial site, as featured in ‘A Given Path’. (Pic by Nafise Motlaq)

Muslim Friday prayers. (Pic by Nafise Motlaq)

A Hindu priest prays silently. A pottu, which covers the spot between the eyebrows, is recognised as a religious mark. (Pic by Nafise Motlaq)

An imam from the Kampung Baru mosque preparing his message before the congregation arrives. (Pic by Nafise Motlaq)

A moment of sorrow by an eldest son in mourning. He walks around a pyre counter-clockwise, reflecting that everything is backwards at the time of death. (Pic by Nafise Motlaq)

Nafise on shoot at a local Buddhist temple. She has worked as a photographer for Iranian newspapers since 1999. (Pic by Fakhere Khatibi)

Nafise at the launch of her book and exhibition of the same name. It was a full house.

The book, 'A Given Path', launched on Malaysia Day in Bangsar. — The book, ‘A Given Path’, launched on Malaysia Day in Bangsar.

Nafise poses for photographs at her book and exhibition launch.

THERE is much beauty and commonality in the diverse religious traditions that Malaysians devote themselves to. Iranian photojournalist Nafise Motlaq captures this in her book A Given Path: Harmonious Spiritual Practices in Malaysia.

Nafise, who has been living in Malaysia since 2005 and is currently a PhD student at a local university, offers more than 100 photographs in her book. The quietly evocative pictures record the details and religious significance of – and, in several instances, similarities between – Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu rituals.

Her book, and an exhibition of the same name, was launched on Malaysia Day by Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir in Kuala Lumpur. Priced at RM55, A Given Path is available online and is expected to be in major bookstores in the Klang Valley from November.

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