Two objects, one purpose
Prayer wheels and prayer flags are among the most recognisable features of Tibetan Buddhist culture, found across Tibet, Ladakh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Himalayan communities elsewhere. Both are ways of placing sacred words and good wishes into daily life without needing to recite them continuously. Their use belongs mainly to Tibetan and Himalayan traditions; other Buddhist traditions have different practices, and some people in Tibetan communities view the objects in different ways.
Prayer wheels
A prayer wheel (in Tibetan, commonly a mani wheel or mani khorlo) is a cylinder mounted on an axis. Inside are rolls of paper or cloth printed with mantras, most often the mantra of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, “Om mani padme hum”. Some wheels contain very large numbers of printed mantras. Tradition holds that turning the wheel has a similar spiritual benefit to reciting the mantras contained inside, while the user ideally also recites or reflects with the mind.
Types include:
- Hand-held wheels, with a small weight that swings on a chain.
- Rows of fixed wheels along monastery walls or around a stupa, spun one after another as people walk.
- Large wheels in their own housings, sometimes several metres tall.
- Water, wind and butter-lamp wheels, powered by streams, breezes or the heat of a lamp.
Some modern wheels are electrical or built into digital devices; opinions on their religious value differ.
How to turn a wheel
In most Tibetan Buddhist contexts, wheels are turned clockwise, matching the direction of circumambulation practice around a sacred site. Visitors typically touch the wheel with the right hand, giving it a gentle push as they walk past. The Bon tradition, an older Tibetan religion, traditionally turns in the opposite direction; if you see someone doing so, this is likely why. Do not force a heavy wheel, and do not spin it in a way that suggests playfulness. If a wheel is in a private chapel, ask before touching.
Wheels are often placed at routes such as the circuit around Boudhanath Stupa, and also on the long pilgrim walk at Mount Kailash, where people may carry small hand wheels. See Kailash kora for that context.
Prayer flags
Prayer flags are squares or rectangles of cloth printed with mantras, prayers, symbols and often a central figure called the wind horse (lungta). They are strung on lines or attached to poles on mountain passes, bridges, rooftops and near monasteries. The belief is that the wind carries the blessings printed on them across the landscape, helping all beings. The flags are not understood as messages to a god but as aspirations offered for the benefit of others.
A common set is of five colours: blue, white, red, green and yellow. These are often associated with the five elements (space, air, fire, water and earth), but the exact order and the correspondences differ by source. For more on how colours are read in Buddhist art generally, see Buddhist colour symbolism.
There are two main styles: horizontal strings of small flags, and large vertical flags on poles, sometimes called dar cho.
Common questions
Can visitors buy and hang flags? Flags are sold in markets, and many people hang them as acts of goodwill. Many monastery communities welcome this if done at appropriate places. Ask locals where flags can be tied and do not attach them to heritage structures or in places where they are forbidden.
What happens to old flags? Flags are left to fade and fray in the wind, which is considered part of their purpose. Faded flags are often replaced during the new year or at auspicious dates. Do not throw flags in the rubbish or burn them casually. If you remove old flags with permission, follow local guidance on how to dispose of them respectfully, which often means burning them in a clean place.
Should flags touch the ground? Traditionally no. They carry sacred words and are treated with respect. Do not step over them, sit on them or use them as decoration for a picnic.
Do flags have a fixed date? Many people hang new flags at the start of the Tibetan year or on days regarded as favourable, but this depends on community and teacher.
Respectful behaviour for visitors
- Walk clockwise around wheels, stupas and monasteries.
- Do not touch flags unnecessarily or take them as souvenirs from a site.
- Be quiet and calm around busy wheel circuits; local people are often praying or chanting.
- Ask before photographing people spinning wheels.
- Follow temple entry customs when a wheel is inside a hall.
Prayer wheels and flags are found in places at high altitude, where weather and conditions can be serious. Check current official and medical advice before travelling to mountain areas. Customs vary by community, so follow local guidance wherever it differs from this general summary.