Category: Ritual Objects | Tradition: Vajrayana Buddhism | Origin: Nepal, India, and Tibet
A Ringa, also called the Ritual Cap, is made in stages and by hand. Five panels have to be designed, cut, shaped and decorated, and then joined into a crown that sits on the head. In a metal Ringa, the Buddhas are raised in relief on the sheet metal, the panels are plated, and cloth is stitched to hold them together. In a paper Ringa, the panels are printed or painted, and the cloth work is much the same. This guide describes the main stages in outline, and then how our own workshop makes them. Workshops differ in their methods, so this is not a fixed recipe.
A Craft with Old Roots in the Kathmandu Valley
The Newar craftsmen of the Kathmandu Valley have worked sheet metal by repoussé for many centuries. The Metropolitan Museum of Art notes that this technique has been used in the valley since at least the seventh century, and that Nepalese vajra crowns were made from copper sheets that were embossed, hammered and joined, then fire-gilded and set with stones. Our artisans in Patan work in this tradition, with methods that suit the way Ringas are made today.
Step 1: Design and Pattern
The artisan first plans the crown: the height and shape of the five panels, the Buddhas or mantra syllables, the symbols and the border. A pattern is prepared for each panel so that the five match in size and shape. The Buddhas follow the established iconography, with their colors, gestures and seats, and this is one reason the work needs a trained hand.
Step 2: Cutting the Metal Sheet
For a metal Ringa, a sheet of copper, brass or silver is cut to the required size. Five panels are cut to match the pattern, and the cut edges are filed smooth so that they are safe to handle. Holes are made along the panel edges, ready for the stitching that will join the panels later.
Step 3: Embossing and Pressing the Figures
The figure of the Buddha, or the mantra syllable, is raised from the flat sheet. Traditionally this is done by repoussé, hammering from the back with punches and then refining the front. In our workshop, the sheet is embossed or pressed using a die or a mold that carries the figure or mantra. The die gives each of the five panels the same outline and relief, which helps the crown sit evenly, and finer details can be refined by hand afterwards.
Step 4: Finishing the Surface
The raised panels are cleaned, filed and polished. Where the design calls for it, finer lines such as borders, floral scrolls and jewels are added with engraving tools, and some Ringas may have decorative stones or parts made of brass or silver. Plating needs a clean, smooth surface, so careful polishing comes first.
Step 5: Gold and Silver Plating
Plating is done after the panels are shaped. The gold-colored Ringas are electroplated in gold, and the silver-colored ones are silver-plated. When a Ringa is made of five separate panels, each panel is plated after the figures are pressed and before the panels are attached to each other. When a Ringa is made as a single piece, it is plated after all the parts have been joined. The traditional method in the Kathmandu Valley, fire-gilding, applies gold to the metal and fixes it with heat.
Step 6: Binding the Panels
The five panels are then bound together with silk thread, passed through the holes already made along their edges. The panels are fixed to a band of cotton or silk that runs along the base and takes the shape of the head. This cutting and sewing is done by our textile artisans, who specialize in cloth work. Because the panels are stitched to a flexible band, and not fixed rigidly, the crown can be laid flat for storage.
Step 7: Lining with Felt
Felt is cut to the required shape and fitted inside the Ringa and at the back of the cotton. It is made of thick cotton, synthetic or woolen felt, and it makes the lining firm and steady, so that the crown holds its shape and sits evenly on the head.
Step 8: Ties and Tassels
Long ties of cotton or silk are attached at both ends so that the Ringa can be fastened and the fit adjusted. They are often finished with small tassels of silk brocade.
Step 9: Final Checking
The artisan checks that the five points stand evenly, that the stitching is secure, that the edges are smooth, that the plating is clean and that the crown sits well and looks as it should.
How Is a Paper Ringa Made?
A paper Ringa is made without metalwork. The paper panels are printed with the Buddhas, symbols and borders, and they are cut to shape. In older traditional Ringas, the panels were instead painted by hand with natural colors, but printed panels are the most common today. Once the panels are ready, they are joined with cotton or silk fabric in the same way as a metal Ringa, and finished with a lining, ties and tassels. The cutting and sewing is done by the same textile artisans who work on the metal Ringas.
The Time and Skill Involved
Simple metal Ringas can be finished within a couple of days, and paper Ringas within a day. A complex Ringa, with a detailed design or a larger size, can take many days. The craft calls for several skills: cutting and shaping metal, working with dies and molds, plating, and cutting and sewing cloth. Each is done by an artisan trained in that work.
How We Make Our Ringas
We sell all types of Ringa, from paper to metal, and our artisans make them in their own workshop. Metal Ringas begin with copper, brass or silver sheet that is cut, pressed or embossed and then plated. Paper Ringas begin with printed panels. In both cases the panels are joined with silk thread to a cotton or silk band by our textile artisans, then lined with felt and finished with ties. Each product page lists the details of that Ringa.
Our Ringas are not blessed. We do not sell blessed items, but we can arrange a blessing at the customer's request, on the customer's behalf.
Read more: What Is a Ringa? | What Is a Ringa Made Of?
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a Ringa made?
For a metal Ringa: the metal sheet is cut, the figures are embossed or pressed with a die or mold, the panels are plated, bound together with silk thread to a cotton or silk band, and lined with felt.
What is repoussé?
A method of raising a design in relief by hammering a metal sheet from the back, then refining the front. Our workshop uses dies and molds for the main figures.
How long does it take to make a Ringa?
Simple metal Ringas take a couple of days and paper Ringas about a day. Complex or larger Ringas take many days.
Are Ringas made by hand?
Ours are made by our artisans in their workshop. The pressing, plating, cutting and sewing are done by trained artisans, and the stitching is done by hand.
How are paper Ringas made?
Printed paper panels are cut and joined with cotton or silk fabric, then lined and finished with ties, in much the same way as a metal Ringa.
Is plating done before or after the panels are joined?
For a Ringa of five separate panels, each panel is plated before the panels are attached to each other. A Ringa made as a single piece is plated after the parts are joined.
Is a Ringa blessed?
Ours are not blessed. We can arrange a blessing at your request, on your behalf.
Explore Our Ringas
View our handcrafted Ringas [add link to your Ringa collection]