In the heart of Tibet lies Dingri, a place where traditions and customs paint a vivid picture of cultural identity and societal values. Here, rituals and etiquette are not just formalities but a way to express respect, spirituality, and connection.
Offering the Khata: A Gesture of Goodwill
One of the most significant customs in Dingri, as well as across Tibet, is the offering of the Khata, a traditional ceremonial scarf. This practice spans a multitude of occasions, including weddings, funerals, festivals, meetings with elders, welcoming friends and guests, visiting temples and new homes. Originating from ancient Indian Buddhism and introduced through Nepal, the Khata is usually white, symbolizing purity and good fortune, akin to an angel’s ribbon.
Prostration: A Sign of Devotion
The act of prostration, or bowing deeply, is a common sight, especially in religious contexts. Devotees often prostrate before Buddha statues, stupas, and living Buddhas, showing reverence. The ritual involves raising clasped hands above the head, touching the forehead, chest, and then bowing to the ground, stretching the body flat in a gesture of humility and worship.
Bowing: A Mark of Respect
In traditional Dingri society, bowing, especially when meeting someone of higher status or great respect, is a common practice. The etiquette requires one to remove their hat and bow with the hat placed over the chest. In rural and monastic areas, extending the tongue while bowing is also widespread, serving as an additional mark of respect.
Offering Barley Wine: A Hospitality Tradition
Welcoming guests with barley wine (or beer in modern times) is a customary gesture in Dingri households during celebrations and guest receptions. The tradition dictates that guests drink two sips followed by a full cup, known as “three sips and one cup.” Adherence to this custom is seen as an understanding of proper etiquette, with barley wine being the beverage of choice for its cultural significance.
Serving Butter Tea: A Warm Welcome
Offering butter tea is an essential part of hospitality in Dingri. Upon a guest’s arrival and seating, the hostess or children serve butter tea, initially half-filled and then topped off. It’s considered polite for guests to wait for the hostess to offer the tea rather than reaching for it themselves, symbolizing gracious acceptance of hospitality.
Presenting “Tchema”: A Festive Offering
During festivals, guests are presented with “Tchema” (gro-so-phye-mar), a traditional offering consisting of a colorful wooden box filled with roasted barley flour and barley grains, adorned with symbols of the sun and moon, barley ears, large feathers, precious flowers, and butter sculptures. The custom involves scattering a pinch of barley flour or grains upwards (to honor the heavens) and downwards (to honor the earth) as a mark of respect to the natural world. Similarly, before drinking barley wine, a gesture of flicking wine towards the sky and ground with the ring finger is performed, following the “three sips and one cup” tradition.
These practices underscore the deep spiritual and cultural roots of Dingri, reflecting a community where respect for the divine, nature, and one another is woven into the very fabric of daily life.
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