For centuries Tibetan Buddhists have planted these flags outside their homes and places of spiritual practice for the wind to carry the beneficent vibrations across the countryside.
They are written in Tibetan and said to bring happiness, long life and prosperity, enlightenment and protection to the flag planter and those in the vicinity who will also be protected against dangers and negative forces.
Traditional Tibetan prayer flags are colorful squares of fabric with Buddhist symbols and sutras printed on them.
According to ancient Tibetan-Himalayan tradition, as wind drives the flags, prayers are unleashed to the heavens, carried by Wind-Horse.
As the square flags’ edges start to fray and the vivid colors begin to fade, all the prayers are said to be released.
These flags are stung together and hung outside temples and homes.
They may be placed either inside building to increase the spiritual atmosphere or outdoors where the wind can carry the sacred prayers.
A typical prayer flag has at its central image a horse bearing three flaming jewels on its back, known as “Wind-Horse” which lends the flags their Tibetan name, ‘lung-ta’.
The three jewels symbolize Buddha, Buddhist teachings and Buddhist community (the equivalent of Tibetan trinity).
Five different colors are used in the prayer flags which represent five elements, or five different postures of Buddha: space (blue), water (white), fire (red), air (green) and earth (yellow), and five different elements, earth, water, fire, cloud, sky.
These five colors also represent five directions, five wisdoms, five meditative Buddhas and five mental attributes.
Around the horse are 20-odd matras-powerful ritual utterances – each dedicated to a particular deity.
The flags are usually renewed each Tibetan New Year.
These flags are colorful reminders of truth of life, that we are here with this precious life for some time only.
This picture was shot at the time of sunset, in Leh, capital of Ladakh, in the Himalayan hills.
