mountain deity

The A mdo Tibetan Lab rtse Ritual

Abstract: 
The origin of a specific A mdo lab tse established, offerings to local mountain deities during the annual ritual venerating the three local mountain deities to whom the lab tse is dedicated and their origins, and related activities for a two-to-three-day period annually in summer are described. 

Daja Mountain

This is the hardest part of the journey, because we have to climb over this rocky mountain to get to the lake. It is quite dangerous to climb in some places, but no accidents have happened. This is probably because the mountain god is watching over us.

Photographer: 
Lumo Tsering

Foreign Visitors

I was surprised to see so many foreigners during the ritual. I was told that some of them are temporary travelers, and that some had lived there for years. During the ritual process, photographers wander around everywhere without a hint of concern about possibly inconveniencing the participants or villagers. Their cameras kept clicking and no one asked permission.

Photographer: 
Lhundrom

Foreign Visitors

During the ritual process, photographers wander around everywhere without a hint of concern about possibly inconveniencing the participants or villagers. Their cameras kept clicking and no one asked permission.

Photographer: 
Lhundrom

Circumambulation

The ritual begins with men circumambulating the courtyard.

Photographer: 
Lhundrom

Offerings

At the beginning of the Klu rol ritual each household brings offerings to the village courtyard where the ritual starts and proceeds from. Tsampa (roasted barley flour), fruits (grapes and apples), breads (all homemade), liquor (barley or rice) and cookies are offered. Flowers are placed among the offerings as decoration.

Photographer: 
Lhundrom

Circumambulation

The ritual begins with men circumambulating the courtyard. They walk in a systematical gait as a man beats a drum. This constant beat provides the rhythm to keep their steps together. While the men walk, the Lhaba (trance medium) prepares. The entire village attends this part of the ritual. Women with their children sit nearby and watch.

Photographer: 
Lhundrom

Dressing

After the meal the village men go back to their homes to get ready for the ritual. All ritual participants are required to wear a Tibetan robe and Tibetan long-sleeved shirts. These clothes were traditionally everyday wear, but people don’t wear them very often nowadays. The socks that they wear for the ritual are special in that they are homemade and are very different from the ones people wear in daily life. 

Photographer: 
Lhundrom

Food Preparation

Five households in the village invite all the villagers to share a meal which is prepared particularly for this ritual. The feast is served before the ritual begins. Because between fifty to seventy people come to eat, all the village women come to help prepare, bringing bowls and cooking tools with them. Big pots of soup with noodles and meat are served.

Photographer: 
Lhundrom