TRADITIONAL  RITUAL PRACTICED BY THE TIBETANS.

I belong to a society, where we follow rich cultural traditions, customs and beliefs. My ancestors are basically from Tibet. I love my country even though I have never visited it and will hopefully do it in future. My grandparents have lived the Lhasian life in Tibet and they always told me story about our culture and how they lived. Even though it is now governed and ruled by China, the tibetans in China still follow and practise all our cultural traditions and beliefs, that our ancestors practised. The chinese can control us but they cannot change who we are and turn us into one of them. So, basically my Nacirema story would definetly be about my beautiful and rich tibetan culture :) 

So firstly,  Tibet is rich in tradition and many tibetans still have lifestyles that have changed little over generations. It is also a modern country with urban tibetans living lives that would  be recognisable to most people across the world. 

In the tibetan traditions, the whole world is used for a spirit which enters those man and woman who acts as a medium between the natural and the spiritual realms. It is indeed very frightening to watch, knowing that this movement combined with the weight of the massive helmet he wore on his head would be enough to snap his neck. He did it at least fifteen times, leaving no one in any doubt about where the danger lay. Dealing with Nechung is by no means easy. It takes time and patience during each encounter before he will open up. Before the proceeding begins, he also puts on a sort of harness, which supports four flags and their outfit weighs more than seventy pounds and he can hardly walk in it. After a short while, the Kuten, which we call "Lhamo" meaning witch in english enters his body, having been supported until then by his assistants, who now help him over to a small stool set before my throne. At first the paper cycle concludes and the second begins, his trance begins to deepen. At this point, a huge helmet is placed on his head. The item weighs approximately thirty pounds, through before it weighed over eighty pounds. Fancy ourselves carrying that much load on our head ? seriously ? I would be flat on the ground in just one sec. Now the Kuten's face transforms and becomes all scary and strange. this shows that the witch has entered his soul and is now starting to control him. It is something like getting possessed and these rituals are performed by high or very respected or experienced Rinpoches. His breathing begins to shorten and he starts to his violently. Then suddenly the respiration stops. At this point the helmet is tied in place with a knot so tight that it would undoubtedly strangle the Kuten if something very real were not happening. The possession is now complete and the mortals frame of the medium expands visibly. He then stands infront of his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, our leader, and bows down to him with utter respect. He then offers rituals offering to his Holiness. Actually this ritual is performed to bring news from tibet whether its good or bad to his Holiness. His Holiness also asks personal questions from his side and the the Kuten answers them all. After all this rituals have been performed, the Kuten leaves the body of the Rinpoche, who was associated with the ritual collapses, a rigid and a lifeless form, signifying the end of the possession. It is believed that people who get to see this ritual in real life is blessed. And yay !!! I have seen it life back in 2012, in Bodhgaya. 

There are many other cultural rituals performed by the tibetans. I would love to share them with all my blog viewers but unfortunately I already exceeded my word limits. I apologise Mr. Vincent for making to too long. I thought why not introduce something new and interesting to all. To be honest, I really don't know if this is a nacirema story but somehow, I think it, in my point of you. :P last but not the least, I am already learning a lot of new and interesting things in my SCA class. 

Thank-you. :) 

THE PICTURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM GOOGLE IMAGES.