Tibetan Buddhist Prayer Flag

The fluttering prayer flag (Lungta) are actually colorful cotton squares and white blue, yellow green and red colors with images, mantras and prayers on it and are connected along their top edge to a long string. Lungta (Lung=Wind, Ta=Horse), a mythical Tibetan creature from pre Buddhist times combines the speed of the wind and strength of the horse to carry prayers from Earth to the heavens. The word Lungta for a Tibetan itself means fortune or good luck. Tibetans believe that the prayers and mantras will be blown upwards as offerings to the Deities and will bring fortune, happiness and good health to all who hang them as well as their families, loved ones neighbors, and all the people throughout the world, including even enemies.

Lungta represent peace, compassion, strength and wisdom. Old Lungta are usually replaced with new ones annually on the Tibetan New Year.