Stories & Culture
Prayer Flags
Prayer Flags is a story recorded around Lukla, Chheplung, Phakding.
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Prayer flags are variously used to mark religious sites, mountain passes, landslides and avalanches. Their purpose and use can be traced back to Bon, the pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet and Himalayas. The followers of this ancient religion used colored flags to propitiate local deities. While it isn't entirely clear whether the local deities get the message, the flags do serve the practical purpose of marking passes and landslide prone areas in addition to their aesthetic value. Under Buddhism the five colors of prayer flags symbolise the five elements: yellow for earth, green for water, red for fire, white for air and blue for space. Various texts and figures are also printed on the flags. The most popular ones being the wind-horse, vajra and the eight auspicious symbols. The one with the wind-horse is used to raise one's energy, and the sight of one before a high pass will most certainly raise yours.
