Prayer flags found everywhere and more commonly along the mountain passes are believed to bring in luck, good health and happiness. A belief too strong yet the manner in which Bhutanese are hoisting the prayer flags is now becoming a concern as there are too many prayer flags hoisted haphazardly.
Recently, board members of Druk Wangyel Lhakhang in Dobchula, Thimphu sent a letter to the National Environment Commission and Royal Bhutan Army to discourage people to hoist prayer flags in and around the Lhakhang and the Chorten complex. “It spoils the scenic beauty of the sacred monument,” the letter read.
Most common, the Lungta loosely translated as Wind Horse, are seen strewed on the ground, bundled and soiled ubiquitously. The security personnel there said effort to collect the waste and burn has become uncontrollable as number of visitors increased day by day.
“We understand this is part of our belief and there are too many flags being hoisted here. But what is quite sad is to see too many flags are strung haywire and some of them lying on the ground in many. We collect them every day and burn down,” said the security personnel.
Although by hanging these flags in high places carry the blessings to all beings and get air purified and sanctified; on the other hand, it is in good interest to discourage haphazard hoisting of prayer flags that is becoming an eyesore.
