Prayer Flags

For centuries Buddhist prayer flags have towered and fluttered over the Himalayan landscape, this is due to the popular belief that wind blowing through the mantras activate positive energy and peace to all those who are touched by its breeze. 

 Prayer flags are created using traditional wooden printing blocks as well as modern silk screen printing methods. The flags are printed with sacred mantras and symbols and come in five symbolic colors: blue for the sky, white for the air, red for fire, green for water and yellow for earth. There are five kinds of prayer flags comprising of Lungdhar which is hoisted for positive merit and good fortune, Mani Dhar which is raised for the deceased, Lhadhar which is hoisted outside dzongs and temples during the New Year, Chudhar which is offered to the protective deities and Goendhar which is hoisted atop houses following the annual house ritual. Prayer flags are hoisted for happiness, longivity, prosperity, luck, compassion and to offer karmic merit to all sentient beings. 

 Prayer flags benefit us in four different ways: through sight, sound, thought and touch. It is believed that prayer flags embody the speech, body and mind of the Buddha and circumambulating a prayer flag earns merit akin to circumambulating a stupa, lhakhang or a Dzong. Prayer flags are raised by consulting the lunar almanac to determine the auspicious days and time. After years of prolonged weathering when the print fades it should be burned as disposing off the prayer flags improperly is considered a sacrilege since the prints of the mantras and symbols on the flags are considered sacred. Prayer flags are still ubiquitous all over Bhutan symbolic of the deep reverence for the buddha dharma and peace.