Tibet Local Customs

 
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  • Sakya Monastery - of the Sakyapa Order
      Sakya Monastery - of the Sakyapa Order
    by Maria81
  • Inside the Assembly Hall of Tashilhunpo
      Inside the Assembly Hall of Tashilhunpo
    by Maria81
 
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Thangkas

by grets

Thangkas (meaning ‘that which can be rolled up’)A tangka is a religious painting which has been mounted on brocade and rolled up between two sticks for portability. They were often used by preachers and doctors as a virtual learning aid, not unlike a book. There are other, enormous tangkhas, some the size of a small building, which are unfurled during festivals. The production of a thangka follows a strict schedule: Linen, stiffened with glue and coated with a mixture of lime and chalk (called gesso), is stretched on a wooden frame. A grid is drawn onto the thangka controlled by strict mathematical measurements, then outlines are sketched in charcoal, starting with the main deity and moving outwards. Starting with the background, colours are added one at a time, ending with the shading. Traditional pigments would be used, such as red from cinnabar, blue from lapis and yellow from...

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Strong religious belief

by tremendopunto

Despite the Chinese surpressing of the traditional Tibetan belief, especially concerning the Dalai Lama, the Tibetans kept their faith. There are still so many Nomads and Pilgrims circling their holy places with their prayer wheels and an om mani padme hum on their lips. Some do their pilgrim circuit all the way by their full body length on the ground - really amazing! And nevertheless how much money they have (or not have) they always donate some for Buddha. The pic shows pilgrims in front of the Jokhang Temple, the holiest Tibetan Temple.

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Monks

by luiggi

Monasteries have always been the pride of Tibet. Traditional monastic communities live in their individual ways and are widely respected. Before the Chinese occupation, there were more than 6000 monasteries in Tibet. Today there are only a couple of hundred. Every family was proud if one of their sons, usually the first-born, entered a monastery. Exact rules and a hierarchy exists in a monastic community, but a monk is always allowed to make his own decisions and to leave the monastery without any trouble or any further sanctions.

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Prayer wheels

by luiggi

It's believed that spinning the wheel invokes as many blessings as the number of prayers it contains.Prayer wheels decorate homes, monasteries and even mountain passes. Potala Palace, historic home of the Dali Lama, is the ultimate display with 1,008 prayer wheels surrounding its walls.

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Barkhor

by luiggi

Around the Jokhang there are a number of small streets and squares that together form the Barkhor. The Barkhor and the Jokhang belong together. For the pilgrims coming to the Jokhang, the walk around the Jokhang is a part of their pilgrimage. This has been a tradition since pilgrims started coming to the Jokhang. All those pilgrims and in that way also brings a lot of tourists to visit the Barkhor. That attracts a lot of merchants. In that way the Barkhor has changed in one big marketplace.

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Jokhang Temple pilgrims

by luiggi

Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet. Everyday, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple. Some of them progress by prostrating themselves throughout their journey until they reach the threshold of the temple. Pilgrims kindle butter lamps with yak butter, or honor the deities with white scarves while murmuring sacred mantras to show their pieties to the Buddha.

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Buddhist Monks

by Gage17

One of the many aspects of Tibetan culture to be revered are buddhist monks, and they can prodominantly be seen in the monasteries of the country. Like the majority of Tibetans, most monks are curious and friendly. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to sit and listen to monks chant their daily prayers. I can fathom nothing else as calming and moving and serene.

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Prostrating Pilgrims

by Gage17

It is common practice for Tibetan buddhists to prostrate themselves as a form of prayer. Simply put, prostrating is done with prayer hands that touch the head, the chest and then are opened and lowered to the ground to support the body until the person is stretched out completely. This practice can be seen at the Barkhor Circuit in Lhasa. Some will prostrate as they circumnavigate the route while others stand in front of Jokhang Temple and prostrate repeatedly.

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Barkhor Circuit

by Gage17

Although it is not uncommon to see western travelers on the circuit, the majority of walkers are Tibetan, and they could be locals in Lhasa or nomads from the farthest reaches of the Himalayas. They carry with them, on their bodies or in their hands, an eyesore of Tibetan treaures... red yard woven into hair braids, clumps of beads fingered in their palms, prayer wheels endlessly twisting around. Be respectful and ask permission before photographing anyone.

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Butter Tea and Tsampa

by Gage17

A staple of any Tibetan meal, butter tea is made from Yak milk and tsampa is a roasted barley flour. It's definitely an acquired taste but not too terrible on the western palate. Actually, I preferred (and eventually grew a taste for) butter tea in the mountains over a tourist sip in Lhasa. It is warming and fattening, and a reward after a trek in the mountains.

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Local traditions and culture in Tibet

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Local Customs: Cities in Tibet
  1. Lhasa Local Customs
  2. Gyangze Local Customs
  3. Xigaze Local Customs
  4. Samyai Local Customs
  5. Zhigung Local Customs
  6. Lhaze Local Customs

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Q:  I am planning a trip of a life time and have two years to do so… so first I want to get some ideas from seasoned travelers and... 

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A: If you want to hike or bike, Tibet (which is stunning, by the way) is probably not going to work out. The Chinese government will only issue permits for people to enter... 

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