From the archive record
Prayer Flags in Ladakh. Prayer flag is a colorful panel or rectangular cloth found strung along mountain ridges and peaks high in the Himalayas to bless the surrounding countryside or for other purposes.There are two kinds of prayer flags: horizontal ones, called lung ta (meaning "Wind Horse") in Tibetan, and the vertical Darchor. "Dar" translates as "to increase life, fortune, health and wealth", "Cho" translates as "all sentient beings".Lung Ta (horizontal) are those prayer flags which are square or rectangular shape and are connected along their top edges to a long string or thread. They are commonly hung on a diagonal line from high to low between two objects (e.g., a rock and the top of a pole) in high places such as the tops of temples, monasteries, stupas or mountain passes.Darchor