Indoor Prayer Flags

Most people know Tibetan prayer flags from the outside. They flutter in the wind on mountain summits, over passes, on bridges and on monastery roofs. Their bright colours are a distinctive sign of Tibetan culture, recognised worldwide. What is less well known is that prayer flags have belonged indoors for centuries too. In Tibetan households and monasteries they hang in prayer rooms, above altars and in entrance halls, as quiet guardians and carriers of blessing.

Prayer flags for indoor use differ from outdoor flags in material and finishing. They are often made from finer fabrics, silk or thin cotton, and printed more delicately. Since they are not exposed to the weather, they hold their colours and patterns for a long time. Some are elaborately embroidered or worked with gold thread, a mark of the particular regard given to prayer and blessing.

The meaning of the five colours stays the same as for outdoor flags. Blue stands for the sky, white for the wind, red for fire, green for water and yellow for earth. Together they embody the harmony of all the elements that carry life. The printed mantras and prayers carry their meaning whether or not the wind moves them. It is the intention behind the hanging that counts.

Indoor prayer flags bring colour, meaning and a distinctive Tibetan atmosphere into any room. They suit a meditation space, the living room, the entrance hall and the bedroom. They also make a meaningful and personal gift for people who value Tibetan culture or keep a meditation practice.

At tibet-markets.ch we carry indoor prayer flags in various sizes, materials and finishes, all handmade and carefully chosen for quality and iconographic correctness.