Comic Performances:
The Lamas enjoy comic performances after the Latse ritual.
Photos by Tsemdo Thar
Blessing:
Tenba Gyaltso is the Lama of Ati Gompa, Karmathang's local monastery. Here he gives blessings to the villagers after the Latse ritual.
Carrying the Conifer Tree:
Village men are on the Domotang Grassland which is near the Ami-Daker mountain. It is about twenty-five kilometers from Karmatang Village. They carry the conifer tree which will become part of the center of the new Latse.
Loading the Tree:
Villagers load the conifer tree onto a tractor, ready to transport it back to Karmathang Village.
Villagers:
These village men went to the mountain and felled a conifer tree for the construction of the new Latse.
Karmathang Village:
A picture of Karmatang village before the Latse ritual took place. Now after its completion the Latse can be seen on the ridge at the far right side of the frame.
Arrows:
Arrows are made and painted in preparation for the Latse's construction. Village leaders bought the materials in Xining City (the capital of Qinghai Province) and the village men made the arrows themselves.
Arrows:
The bushes that are inserted into the Latse base are chosen according to a book that describes what kinds of bushes are needed for a Latse.
Arrows:
Village males insert arrows into the Latse according to arrow length. The longest one should be first and the shortest one should be last.
Monks:
Tenba Gyaltso (the lama of Ati Monastery) and his disciples measure with a woolen string the place where they will bury the wonba.
Monks:
The Lama and his student measure to determine the position where the shokshang will be placed.
Motorbikes:
Village men ride their motorcycles as they lead the Lama to the Latse site at around seven o’clock in the morning.
Wonba:
After the Latse materials are prepared, the monks chant and purify them for three days before they put them into the Latse. Materials required for the Latse include include tsamba (roasted barley flour dough) sculptures, the wonba (a container filled with precious things, wheat, beans, honey and butter), and wooden blocks with scriptures written on them.
Latse:
The Lama and his students place wooden blocks with scriptures written on them at the base of the Latse. They also tie some to the Shokshang facing outwards towards the four directions (north, south, east, west).
Latse:
The village men stand the conifer tree beside the Shokshang. Woolen threads are tied amongst the tree leaves.
Latse:
Two village men who were born in the year of the tiger are selected to set up the Shokshang with the monks.
Children:
Village children tie woolen threads around the Latse Shokshang to stabilize it and the arrows. The Shokshang is the central pillar of the Latse. This Tibetan word can be directly translated as ‘life-wood’.
Archery:
Village men are happy and jump after the Latse ritual. One villager has an imported bow from the USA,
Tsemdo Thar
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