Category: Ritual Objects | Tradition: Tibetan Buddhism and Himalayan Culture | Origin: Nepal, India, and Tibet
Prayer flags are rectangular pieces of cloth printed with mantras, prayers and sacred images, and hung outdoors so that the wind can carry their blessings to all beings. They are one of the most familiar sights of the Himalayas, fluttering from rooftops, bridges, monasteries, stupas and mountain passes across Nepal and Tibet. In Tibetan they are called lungta, or wind horse, and darchog, and they are far more than decoration. This guide explains what prayer flags are, where they come from, what the five colors and the designs mean, how they are hung and cared for, and how they differ in kind. Interpretations and customs differ between traditions, teachers and communities, so this is a general overview and not the only explanation.
What Are Prayer Flags?
A prayer flag is a piece of cloth, usually square or rectangular, that carries printed mantras, prayers and images, and is meant to be hung in the open air. In Tibetan Buddhist belief, the wind that passes over the flags carries the prayers, compassion and good wishes printed on them out across the land, for the benefit of all living beings.
The flags are not offerings made to gods or a way of making requests, and this is one of the most common misunderstandings. They are an expression of a wish for the happiness and wellbeing of everyone, not only the person who hangs them. Because of this, prayer flags are seen as an act of generosity and compassion, and people of different backgrounds, including non-Buddhists, may hang them with a good intention.
Where Prayer Flags Come From
The origin of prayer flags is not fully certain, and several traditions have contributed to them. Many scholars link the use of simple colored flags to the Bön tradition of Tibet, which used plain flags in primary colors. Buddhism took up the practice and brought with it the Indian custom of writing sutras and prayers on cloth, and a tradition holds that the teacher Atisha, who came to Tibet from India in the eleventh century, helped bring the printing of prayers on cloth to Tibet and Nepal. In Indian Buddhist tradition, there is also a story of the Buddha writing prayers on a heavenly banner. From these roots grew the prayer flags we see today.
Prayer flags have been part of everyday life in the Himalayas for centuries, and in modern times they have become known around the world, so that many people who are not Buddhists now hang them as symbols of peace and goodwill. It is helpful to remember that for those who made and use them, they remain sacred objects.
Lungta and Darchog: The Two Main Types
Prayer flags are commonly sorted into two main kinds, according to how they are hung.
• Lungta (horizontal flags): Square or rectangular flags attached along their top edge to a string, which is hung between two points, often diagonally, in a high and open place. These are the flags most people picture, and they usually come in sets of five colors. The word lungta means wind horse.
• Darchog (vertical flags): Large single flags, often tall and narrow, attached along one edge to a pole that is planted in the ground. They are placed on rooftops, hills and mountains, in front of monasteries and on cairns, and they are often raised for special occasions.
Both are made in many sizes. Small flags are used at home, on balconies and on altars, while long strings and large flags are made for monasteries, villages and hillsides.
The Five Colors and What They Mean
Traditional prayer flags come in sets of five colors, which stand for the five elements. They are hung in a fixed order from left to right: blue, white, red, green and yellow. Keeping the set together in this order is considered important.
|
Color |
Element |
Common association |
|
Blue |
Sky or space |
Openness, wisdom and vastness |
|
White |
Air or wind |
Purity and clarity |
|
Red |
Fire |
Energy and transformation |
|
Green |
Water |
Balance, harmony and compassion |
|
Yellow |
Earth |
Stability and grounding |
The five elements are an important idea in Tibetan culture, and traditional Tibetan medicine holds that wellbeing comes from keeping the elements in balance. The flags bring them together in one set, as a picture of harmony between the elements and between people and the world. These associations are commonly taught, but different teachers and communities explain them in different ways.
The Symbols and Mantras on the Flags
What is printed on a prayer flag is as important as its color. Designs vary, but a few appear again and again.
• The wind horse (lungta): The most common design is a horse carrying three flaming jewels on its back, which stand for the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. The horse is a symbol of speed and of turning bad fortune into good.
• The four dignified animals: The dragon, the garuda, the tiger and the snow lion are often printed in the four corners, each standing for a quality, such as strength and fearlessness.
• Mantras and prayers: Many flags carry mantras, such as Om Mani Padme Hum, the mantra of compassion, and prayers for long life, protection and good fortune. Some flags carry hundreds of mantras and sutras.
• Deities and auspicious symbols: Some flags are printed with a particular deity, such as Green Tara or Avalokiteshvara, or with the Eight Auspicious Symbols.
Because the words and images are sacred, the flags are treated with care and kept from touching the ground.
The Idea Behind Prayer Flags
The central idea of prayer flags is that blessings should travel to everyone. The person who hangs the flags is encouraged to hold a wish in mind, that all beings may find peace, wisdom and happiness, and the wind does the work of carrying that wish. Prayer flags are meant to spread peace, compassion, strength and wisdom, and they are not mainly a way of making wishes for oneself.
They are also a quiet lesson in impermanence. Prayer flags are not made to last forever. In sun, wind and rain they slowly fade and fray, and this natural wearing away is a reminder that nothing stays the same. The prayers are understood to continue as the cloth wears out.
Why Prayer Flags Are Hung in High Places
Prayer flags are traditionally hung where the wind is strongest and the air is open: on rooftops, on hilltops and mountain passes, on bridges, and around monasteries and stupas. The higher and more open the place, the farther the wind carries the prayers. In the Himalayas, where mountains are held to be sacred, this has long made passes and ridgelines a natural home for the flags. A set of flags at a stupa, such as the strings that stream from the great stupas of Kathmandu, also shows how the flags are part of the sacred landscape of a place.
Prayer Flags in Nepal
In Nepal, prayer flags are a familiar part of daily life in Himalayan and Buddhist communities, such as the Tibetan, Sherpa, Tamang and Gurung communities, and around the stupas and monasteries of the Kathmandu Valley. They are hung at festivals and on special occasions, and they are raised at homes, hilltop shrines and trekking routes. Nepal has many religious and cultural traditions, including Hindu, Buddhist and others, and customs differ among communities. Prayer flags belong chiefly to the Tibetan Buddhist and Himalayan tradition, though people of many backgrounds appreciate them.
When and How to Hang Prayer Flags
• Intention: The most important thing is a sincere wish that all beings may benefit.
• Timing: Flags can be hung at any time, but many people choose auspicious days and occasions, such as Losar, the Tibetan New Year, Saga Dawa, religious festivals and full-moon days. Some people prefer a clear, windy morning. Some traditions suggest checking an astrological calendar, so it is best to ask your teacher or someone in your community if you wish to follow this.
• Placement: Hang the flags outdoors in an open place where they can flutter freely, and where people will not step over them or walk under them carelessly. They can also be displayed indoors with respect.
• Order of colors: Hang the set from left to right as blue, white, red, green and yellow, and keep the flags together.
• Keep them off the ground: Flags should not touch the ground. If one falls, pick it up with respect.
What to Do With Old Prayer Flags
Because prayer flags are sacred, faded and worn flags are not thrown into the rubbish. There are several respectful ways to let them go.
• Let them fade: Many people leave old flags to fade and wear away naturally, and hang new flags beside them.
• Replace them: In Tibetan custom, flags are renewed each year, often at Losar.
• Burn cotton flags respectfully: Traditionally, old cotton flags are burned in a clean place, with the flags kept off the ground and with respect for what they carry.
• Do not burn synthetic flags: Synthetic cloth gives off harmful fumes when burned. Hang them on a tree in a natural setting, bury them in a clean place or offer them to a monastery.
Practice differs between communities, so if you are unsure, ask a monastery or your teacher.
Materials and Craftsmanship
We sell almost all types and sizes of prayer flags, from very small flags to large and long ones for monasteries and hillsides. Our flags are printed in the traditional way. A mirror image of each mantra or design is carved into a wooden printing block, and the blocks are used to print on cotton, silk, polyester or other synthetic fabric using black ink. Each flag is made by hand, so sizes, colors and prints vary a little from one flag to the next, and each product page lists the details.
The sacred words and images on our flags are printed in black ink. Black is the traditional color of Tibetan writing and printing, and it stands out clearly against all five flag colors. To learn what the ink is made of and how it is made, read our article What Is Prayer Flag Ink Made Of?.
Read more: What Are Prayer Flags Made Of? | How Are Prayer Flags Made? | What Is Prayer Flag Ink Made Of?
Prayer Flags Today
In recent decades, prayer flags have become popular far beyond Buddhist communities, in trekking, photography, architecture and art. This is a welcome sign of interest, and it brings a responsibility to respect their meaning. Flags that are sold or used only as decoration should still be treated respectfully, and it is worth remembering their purpose. Choosing natural fabrics and handling old flags with care also helps keep them in tune with the traditions they come from.
Care and Placement
Hang your flags in a clean, open place and keep the colors in order. Do not wash them, since they are meant to fade in the wind. Keep them off the ground, and do not use them as clothing, tablecloths or wrapping. If you display them indoors, hang them high, away from places where they could be stepped over.
Our prayer flags 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. Many people prefer to ask their own teacher.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are prayer flags?
Cloth flags printed with mantras, prayers and sacred images, hung outdoors so that the wind carries their blessings to all beings.
What does lungta mean?
Lungta means wind horse. It is the name of the horse design on the flags and, more broadly, of the horizontal strings of flags.
What do the five colors mean?
Blue is sky or space, white is air or wind, red is fire, green is water and yellow is earth. They are hung in this order from left to right.
Are prayer flags for making wishes?
Not mainly. They carry good wishes for the benefit of all beings, and not only for the person who hangs them.
Can anyone hang prayer flags?
Yes. They may be hung by anyone with a sincere and respectful intention, including people who are not Buddhists.
Why do prayer flags fade?
They are meant to be left in the sun and wind. The fading is a reminder of impermanence, and the prayers are understood to continue.
How do I dispose of old prayer flags?
Let them fade, replace them with new ones, or burn cotton flags respectfully in a clean place. Do not burn synthetic flags, and do not throw any flags in the rubbish.
When should I hang prayer flags?
Any day is acceptable, but many people choose Losar, Saga Dawa, a festival or a full-moon day, and a clear, windy morning.
Are your prayer flags blessed?
No. We do not sell blessed items, but we can arrange a blessing at your request on your behalf.
Explore Our Prayer Flags
View our handcrafted prayer flags
Related entries: Eight Auspicious Symbols | Stupa | Prayer Wheel