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Yak-lai (Propitiation of Yak god)
  • Manage No PI00006830
    Country Bhutan
    Year ‎Thursday, ‎September ‎11, ‎2014
    ICH Domain Social practices, rituals, festive events
Description A Bonkar (refined Bon religion that doesn’t involve animal sacrificial offering) traditional rite, Yak-lai is performed in some villages in Ura and Tang Gewogs (blocks) who owns la-nor (highland cattle) esp. Yaks. Colloquially, Yak-lai means ‘yak deity’ and if translated in Dzongkha (national tongue) it is called Yak Lha. However, the ritual is not strictly practiced by the Yak owners but, those households who owns tha-nor (normal cattle) also propitiate the god for prosperity of their livestock. The rite specifically invokes the yak deity Lha Wodue Gongjan, who is considered one of the principal deities of Bon who is believed the ultimate source of any blessings possesses supreme ability to fulfill the desires of worldly beings. Residents of Bumthang who have highland cattle, or otherwise practice animal husbandry take part in the three-day Yak-lai ritual every year.
Photographer Samten Yeshi
Place Yak-lai ritual is annually organized at respective pasture shed locally called Tsher-sa at Pang-tshes-pa, Cha-tang or Tang Tsher-sa all located around 5 kilometers from Pangkhar, Ura, Bumthang File Size 13.1 MB
Definition 300dpi File Format JPEG
Copyright Samten Yeshi Copyright
Keyword
Information source
National Library and Archives of Bhutan
https://www.library.gov.bt/archive/

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