Short Paper Prayer Flag: Lucky Signs

Each 5-color flag set is wrapped with a descriptive printed paper band instead of plastic. Perfect for mailing in a notecard or letter as a special gift. Made with sustainably harvested Himalayan paper. Sales benefit several community schools managed by the producers in Nepal.

Size: 2.5"sq. flag x 27" long

About this product:

The eight lucky signs of Tibetan Buddhism include the Knot (inter-relatedness), Wheel (Buddha’s teachings), Lotus (perfection), Conch (awakening call), Umbrella (protection), Victory Banner (conquest of ignorance), Fish (grace), and the Treasure Vase (fulfillment of all wishes). Hang to increase positive outcomes and good fortune. Hang to send prayers for peace and harmony to all sentient beings.

Our mini paper prayer flags are the ideal inexpensive notional gift for a friend or loved one, and can be hung virtually anywhere! Hang our mini versions in a window, across a computer screen, in the car or wherever you need a little dose of mindfulness. Our longer 8’ flags sets are great for use across entrances, windows and other indoor living spaces. Hang outside on a porch in a place protected from rain and sun to avoid fading.

Our paper prayer flags are made with sustainably harvested Lokta paper made from the bark of the Daphne shrub that grows at elevations of 5,000 to 16,000 above sea level in remote areas of the Himalaya in Nepal. The raw fiber is hand-gathered by local villagers from sanctioned forests. The bark is soaked and boiled to soften, then ground into a watery pulp. This solution is mixed with water and sieved onto screens to create individual sheets of paper that dry in the sun. Natural and azo-free synthetic dyes are used to color the paper which can then be printed using typical silk-screen methods. Through this long and laborious process lokta-based craft products offer rural Nepalese people, often women, a much-valued source of income to provide for the needs of their families and communities.

Traditional prayer flags are made using hand-carved woodblocks to print on cloth. As the wind blows the printed prayers are carried off to the universe while rains carry the prayers to the earth. The flags are printed with sacred mantras and deity names; once they fade they should be burned to respectfully dispose of them. The five colors of the flags represent the harmony of five elements in balance; blue=sky and space, white=air and wind, red=fire, green=water and yellow=earth.