Skar ma thang Village, Xinjie Township, Khri ka County

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.

Karmathang villagers build the Latse foundation.

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.

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.  

Tenba Gyaltso, the Lama of Ati Monastery, chants scriptures before the Latse ritual.

Tenba Gyaltso (the lama of Ati Monastery) and his disciples measure with a woolen string the place where they will bury the wonba.

Monks chant scriptures after the wonba has been placed in the Latse.

Two village men who were born in the year of the tiger are selected to set up the Shokshang with the monks.

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).

Villagers cover the wonba.

Village males insert arrows into the Latse according to arrow length. The longest one should be first and the shortest one should be last.

Arrows have been inserted into the Latse according to their length. The longest arrow should be the first and the shortest should be the last.

The Lama and his disciples purify the new Latse after the foundation has been built.

Villagers set off firecrackers to celebrate the completion of the new latse.

The Lamas enjoy comic performances after the Latse ritual.

Joba, a farmer, prepares to shoot an arrow.