Mustang, Aug. 17 -- Mustang has an age-old tradition of electing the middle child of a family as a lama, a ceremonial position for a priest at the local gumba. Once appointed, a lama is responsible for taking care of the village gumba. The tradition is adopted by the Buddhist and Bon communities in the district.

However, in one particular community, the Thini village, no new lama has been appointed for the past seven years. As more families in Mustang become aware of family planning, couples in the region are not giving birth to three or more children these days. Hence, there is no middle child, and no new lama.

Seventeen-year-old Pal Sonam is the newest lama in the community gumba. He was appointed a lama when he was 10. Currently, he ...