Gurkhas Wash In River | Richard Baker Photography

Gurkhas Wash In River

For their daily river washing ritual, young Nepali boys bathe in the river Seti Gandaki in a valley side near the British Gurkha Regiment's army camp at Pokhara during their recruitment selection held ever year, 16th January 1997, in Pokhara, Nepal.
After a gruelling series of physical tests to eliminate the weaker and less able candidates. 60,000 boys aged between 17-22 (or 25 for those educated enough to become clerks or communications specialists) report to designated recruiting stations in the hills each November, most living from altitudes ranging from 4,000-12,000 feet. After initial selection, 7,000 are accepted for further tests from which 700 are sent down here to Pokhara in the shadow of the Himalayas. Only 160 of the best boys succeed in the journey to the UK. The Gurkhas have been supplying youth for the British army since the Indian Mutiny of 1857. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)

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Filename: gurkha_selection04-16-01-1997.jpg
Copyright: Richard Baker
Image Size: 5474x3573 / 3.6MB; 1990s 1997 20th century 90s adolescent armed forces army boys british army bygone daily decade era ethnic historical history homeland hygiene military nineteen-nineties nineties past recruits regiment ritual river soldiers times wash years youth
Contained in galleries: 1990s

For their daily river washing ritual, young Nepali boys bathe in the river Seti Gandaki in a valley side near the British Gurkha Regiment's army camp at Pokhara during their recruitment selection held ever year, 16th January 1997, in Pokhara, Nepal. <br />
After a gruelling series of physical tests to eliminate the weaker and less able candidates. 60,000 boys aged between 17-22 (or 25 for those educated enough to become clerks or communications specialists) report to designated recruiting stations in the hills each November, most living from altitudes ranging from 4,000-12,000 feet. After initial selection, 7,000 are accepted for further tests from which 700 are sent down here to Pokhara in the shadow of the Himalayas. Only 160 of the best boys succeed in the journey to the UK. The Gurkhas have been supplying youth for the British army since the Indian Mutiny of 1857. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)