Basit Afzal, a Kashmiri environmental engineer, stands atop the ice, which is formed by creating ice fields. Over the past couple of decades, "ice stupas" have been made in the region to freeze water to conserve water used in the summer. Ice fields were developed by Basit and another engineer from New Delhi as they require less manpower and can provide an easier and more efficient means of obtaining water.

During the first day of Ladakhi Losar, there is the ceremony of "tsaga chak ches" which means ' to aim the target ' in archery. This is a small parade of musicians, a man dressed as a wolf-like creature, and other characters parading through the village and visiting homes. The group is fed and they drink alcohol with the men, as the perform the ritual in the crop fields of many households. (I am currently working on the exact meaning and relevance of breaking the ice with an arrow from the animal creature. This tradition is no longer performed in most villages, and the research is proving difficult.)

As the sunshine warms the sub-zero temperatures of January, Lamo rinses the lettuce she collected from her greenhouse. Most homes have a greenhouse that will help provide families with necessary food items for personal consumption through the winter.

Jigmet peels the skin from an almond after soaking it in a teacup of water. Almonds are one of the items grown in the village, along with apples, apricots, and green vegetables. Most crops are used and traded among the community of Nang, while the surplus is sold in the capital city of Leh.

Sitting next to the hearth, Ama Tsering La drinks a mix of black tea and butter, a staple among Himalayan cultures and people. The back wall is lined with flowers and plants that will be returned outside once Spring arrives.

Ama Tsering La makes small bundles of parsley plucked from the family's greenhouse earlier that morning. The small fresh bundles will be taken to Leh, about an hour away by car, and sold to help provide income to the household of four.

The winter days are short and freezing, but when there are days of sunshine, household chores, and personal hygiene are taken care of. Lamo braids her mother's hair after Ama Tsering La washes it in warm water.

Ama Tsering La brings one of the two calves home after spending the day grazing near the home. This household of five has three dairy cows and two calves. They are used for milk to be drunk and made into cheese and butter. Most Ladakhi villages have little cattle as they are not used for meat or to be sold.

In late January, Lamo goes inside her greenhouse to pick lettuce. Her large greenhouse stays warm from plastic wrapped over a metal frame throughout the winter as to provide fresh vegetables for the family.

Lamo sells her handmade momos below the Spiti Monastery in Leh, Ladakh. Momos are traditional steamed buns filled with vegetables or meat. She will use the income to help support her household and her two daughters' education.

Tsering Topdan places the butter lamps outside his home to celebrate Galdan Namchot. This commemorates the birth, parinirvana (death), and Buddhahood of Je Tsongkhapa, the most famous teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. His life and teachings formed the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Galdan Namchot also marks the beginning of the new year celebrations in Ladakh.

Lamo and Ama Tsering La sit on the porch with a friend who lives next door. Lamo is knitting slippers that will be sold in big cities such as Leh and Ladakh.

Tsulzes Dolma practices dance and makes a heart shape with her arms while facing the Hemi Mountains and National Park. One of the popular pastimes of teens in Ladakh is performing dances and recording them on social media. These dances are often about love and respect for their environment and culture.

Tsulzes Dolma does her homework on the floor of her home. Most children in Ladakh will be sent to boarding school in hopes that they will gain a better education. This will, in turn, allow their children to move to big cities and earn a higher income.

Nang is an animal rescue and sanctuary at the edge of the village and is financially supported by Hemi Monastery and its Rinpoche, Kybjey Drukpa Thuksey. His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche is a well-known religious figure in Ladakh and encourages the practice of vegetarianism and the love of animals. The sanctuary houses hundreds of dogs, horses, rabbits, birds, and miscellaneous farm animals such as donkeys, sheep, and goats.

During Losar celebrations, Tsering takes a break from playing his horn while leading a procession through the village. Tsering is a musician, making him a member of the lowest caste in India. Although Ladakhis are more closely related to Himalayan people, they have taken on the caste system. Metal smiths and musicians are not to be touched or share any drinking or food vessels. Fortunately, the region's younger generations and educated people do not support the division among people as it's seen as unfair and unjust. As Ladakh faces climate changes, the lower caste systems will suffer the most as they may not have the means to move elsewhere.

Ama Tsering La waits along the roadside for the truck to collect the household's extra milk while providing some extra income to the family.

On the eve of Losar, the male youths and some men practice the ritual of Hashala, which is a tradition of slinging fire. They stuff a few layers of jute bags soaked in kerosene, tie them in a knot (and sometimes placing inside an old paint can), and attach them to a chain or rope. After nightfall, the monastery sounds a trumpet and musicians start playing drums. The youth and men begin walking through the villages slinging the fire around and around. Causing sparks, hitting surfaces and sometimes breaking off to become a fiery ball flying into dark space. They also chant, "Haishala-Hoshala". The ceremony has lost its original meaning, which was based on a myth and legend around the 11th century about an oppressive ruler who had a body of steel. He also had a cannibalistic appetite and ate goat kids, which he demanded villagers serve him. Now, in the present day, this is the time for the young men to come together, play with fire, and meet up afterward to dance and party.

Jigmet Yangzom lights a single butter lamp and recites evening prayers as dusk arrives in Ladakh. The candle will burn through the night, and a new lamp will be placed on the prayer altar at dawn, providing a flame to burn throughout the day.