All You Need to Know About Bhutanese Prayer Flags and Prayer Wheels

In the Bhutanese culture prayer wheels and prayer flags beautifully depicts itself as a divine tool that goals towards spreading love, compassion and blessings for all entities and for the ones we care. The player wheels and flags of Bhutan are triggered just as you turn them round. The prayer flags and prayer wheels are extremely popular in Bhutan tourism as tourists from across the globe specially come to Bhutan to see the beautiful flags and wheels. The Bhutanese flags and prayer wheels have a magical healing power that will surely offer tranquillity and comfort to anyone visiting here. Visiting the prayer flags and wheels are usually included by most tourists in their Bhutan packages.

There are two main types of prayer wheels in Bhutan; the Mani wheels and the Lakhor prayer wheels.

Mani Prayer Wheels

The Mani prayer wheels are hand held prayer wheels that are usually used when individuals walk around Buddhist relics or temples. Numerous tourists who visit Bhutan for pilgrims carry these wheels even on long journeys. These are smaller in height and thus can be easily carried or transported from one place to another. Mostly tourists or travellers carry these types of wheels.

Lakhor Prayer Wheels

The Lakhor prayer wheels on the other hand are placed in buildings like monasteries and temples. Usually there are up to 108 prayer wheels in each of these temples as it is considered to be auspicious and lucky. People usually walk clockwise as they seek blessings through turning each of these wheels.

The prayer flags are chants printed on four-sided cloth. Sizes may vary as per the message on them. There are five such colours corresponding to the all-pervasive five elements that define our existence according to Buddhism. These colours are blue for the sky and space, white for air, red for fire green for water, yellow for earth. The Bhutanese prayer flags have been a part of the Bhutanese culture since many centuries. They are a crucial part of the people’s traditions here. The flags in Bhutan symbolize long life, prosperity, happiness and luck to all individuals. There is a belief in Bhutan according to which when an individual dies, the advantages of offering prayer flags are said to guide to soul of the dead away and prevent it from having a rebirth in the 3 lower realms.

If you are planning your next trip to Bhutan, then visiting the monasteries and temples here with these beautiful flags and prayer wheels should be on your priority list of places to visit in Bhutan.