Beautiful Images of Bhutan Prayer Flags and Their Meanings

(Last Updated On: December 11, 2022)

View From Inside of Prayer Flags Bhutan — View From Inside of a Bhutan Prayer Flag Pole

Prayer flags are a common sight throughout Bhutan. For hundreds of years, prayer flags have played a major role in the traditions of the Bhutanese people. Bhutan’s prayer flags, like Tibetian prayer flags, can be seen blowing in the breeze on every mountain pass, bridge, stupa, temple and on the roofs of people’s home.

Hung high in order to catch the wind, they are placed there because they are believed to bring good luck, happiness, long life and to offer good karma to all sentient beings.

Tachog Lhakhang Monastery and Bhutan Prayer Flags the Iron Chain Bridge

Although it is very common to see strings of small coloured flags, the traditional prayer flag of Bhutan is vertical, attached to a long wooden pole and placed in groups close together. The sound of the flags fluttering in the wind is surprisingly calming.

Prayer Flags Bhutan and the Buddha Outside of Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Temple — Prayer Flags and the Buddha Outside of Bhutan’s Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Temple

Why Do the Bhutanese Fly Prayer Flags

Because putting up a prayer flag is considered a good deed for Bhutanese Buddhists and everyone merits from the prayer as the wind blows the prayer through the air. They are often erected for the dead and the more flags, the more merit, although in recent years, the Bhutanese Government have tried to encourage the recycling of the wooden poles, rather than cutting down new trees, or to use bamboo to avoid the forests disappearing.

Buddhist Prayer Flags on the Highway Between Thimpu and Trongsa

The flags come in five different colours – blue, red, green, white and yellow. Each colour represents the five wisdoms of Buddhism and the five basic elements – sky, fire, earth, water and air. Buddhists believe that keeping these five elements in good harmony is good for the body and mind.

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