Tarboche
1999, Kim Malville
The flagpole at Tarboche is covered with prayer flags and stands some 80 feet high. At this location, the most important annual festival is held. This festival is called Saga Dawa and it takes place on the full moon of the fourth lunar month. Pilgrims from all over Tibet gather at this sacred place to ritually take down the flag pole to replace the old prayer flags with new ones. Then they raise the Tarboche flag pole back up and circumambulate it in a clockwise direction while conches, horns, and other instruments are played to welcome the rising flagpole. The flagpole is also carefully scrutinized by the Tibetans to look for omens. If it is directly straight up, then the year will be prosperous with no diseases, healthy livestock, and good crop harvests. If the flagpole is leaning towards Kailash, it is an omen for suffering from famines, diseases, and untimely deaths. When the flagpole tilts away from Kailash, alarm is generated in the people as well.
1999, Kim Malville
The importance of the Tarboche location is linked to the sanctity of a cemetery called Drachom Ngagye Durtro, located on a ridge to the east of the flagpole site. Guru Rinpoche and the first explorer of Kailash, Gotshangpa, are known to have blessed the site. The original flagpole at Tarboche was said to be an exceptionally tall, "self-manifesting" rangjung tree that Guru Rimpoche said was to be adorned with prayer flags. However, the present flagpole is a replacement, and despite the fact that it lacks the original's neupa vital power, it is still believed to be a sacred relic.
1989, Russell Johnson
Some pictures of the flagpole raising ceremony: (1999, Kim Malville)
