Geshi Tenpa Sonam, who heads the group, takes up a book. (Francine Orr / LAT)
The monks wear saffron robes over their crimson ones when they perform. (Francine Orr / LAT)
Gyaltsen Tharpa lines up a shot during the monks’ downtime. (Francine Orr / LAT)
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The monks gather around a table in a home in Pacific Palisades. Their monastery in southern India houses 1,750 monks and accepts others fleeing Chinese-occupied Tibet. (Francine Orr / LAT)
Chowing down on pizza before leaving for a performance. The monks’ tour includes 44 cities in which they perform traditional chants and dances. (Francine Orr / LAT)
Monks check out famous signatures near Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. (Francine Orr / LAT)
A man in superhero costume surveys the robed monks making a stop at a hallowed tourist site, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. (Francine Orr / LAT)