On my recent trip to Nepal and Bhutan, I was truly captured by the colorful and vibrant Tibetan Buddhist architecture — their prayer wheels, the intricate carvings on their stupas, their regal fortresses, and most of all, their prayer flags.
It’s hard to miss them. They’re everywhere. Strung from one tree to another, erected on a tall pole, or strapped all over a rickety wooden bridge. At the mountain passes, you can literally find hundreds, if not thousands, of colorful Buddhist prayer flags flutter freely.
Scripted with Sanskrit prayers, these flags usually come in five colors, arranged from left to right in a specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. Each of them represents a different element: Blue symbolizes the sky and space, white symbolizes the air and wind, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth.According to Tibetan Buddhism beliefs, health and harmony are produced through the balance of the five elements.
Traditionally, Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Just as life moves on and is replaced by new life, Tibetans renew their hopes for the world by continually mounting new flags alongside the old.
Here’s a look at the Tibetan prayer flags I found in various corners of Nepal and Bhutan, I hope you’ll love them as much as I do:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Prayer flags weaved into the shape of a stupa at Lawa La mountain pass in Western Bhutan.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The beautiful dome of Kathmandu’s Boudhanath Stupa with Tibetan flags strung from its golden pyramid to the base of the structure
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The winds are blowing the prayer flags at Kathmandu’s Swayambhunath, spreading the goodwill and compassion to the surroundings
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The famous Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan as viewed between strings of prayer flags
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
On the bridge that leads towards the Tiger’s Nest, I am surrounded by hundreds of prayer flags that flap in all directions.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Kathmandu sprawls beneath my feet at Swayambhunath Temple.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
More Buddhistflags and stupas at Swayambhunath in Kathmandu
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
A vertical prayer flag at Lawa La mountain pass in Bhutan
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
At Docho La mountain pass, I found interwoven strings of prayer flags within the forest that overlooks the 108 stupas.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Hundreds of flags adorn this wooden cantilever bridge that connects downtown Thimphu to the jewelry market.
The post Colors of the Tibetan Prayer Flags appeared first on Wild Junket.