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Prostrating Tibetan Pilgrims

2,498 views · Published 7 January 2012 · 4:54 · Indexed 14 October 2026

Channel: Shiran De Silva · 2012 · Travel & Events

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Tibetans arrive by the thousands just as they always have dressed in crimson robes, or more often, well-worn rags, leaning on walking sticks or clutching babies.   
                                
Pilgrims move in a clockwise direction around temples and shrines. In addition to prostrating themselves, they also drape white and yellow gauze strips around statues, spoon yak butter into lamps, turn prayer wheels, and leave small banknotes and barley grains as offerings. Many pilgrims wear an amulet called a gau that holds a picture of the Dalai Lama or the owner's protector god. 

 Prostration is an important expression of Tibetan devotion. To earn merit Tibetan pilgrims prostrate themselves by lying face-down on the ground and stretching out their arms and legs. In many cases they repeatedly stretch themselves completely on the ground and touch their hands to the foreheads (representing the mind), mouths (speech) and chest (body) each time.

Pilgrims who repeatedly prostrate themselves while making the circuit of Mt. Kailas take one step, make a Tibetan prayer gesture, raise their hands in prayer, and lay down on the ground, their arms extended in front of them. 

Then they stand up and place their feet where their fingertips had just touched and repeat the process again. 

Those that do this often wear knee pads, aprons and canvas shoes on their hands and take two or three weeks to complete the journey.

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