Tashigomang Project: Portable Altars of Bhutan

2015- 2016

Tashigomangs are portable Buddhist altars representing the celestial palace or realms of Guru Rinpoche, Avalokiteshvara or Amitabha. The Lam Manip or lay ritual practitioner traverses mountains, carrying these portable altars to display them in the remote towns and villages. 

As the Lam Manip's spiritual songs are carried by the Himalayan winds, the Tashigomang is slowly uncovered, its many small doors and windows are opened layer by layer,  revealing multiple sacred figures and deities of whom he sings of. This experience of an unfolding, living mandala, accompanied by chants and spiritual songs is a moving site of devotion as the local community gather around it to listen, making their offerings and receiving its blessings.

The monastic team, together with craftspeople worked in the Tashigomang Project, under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother Gyalyum Kesang Choeden Wangchuck of Bhutan; restoring over 35 Tashigomangs from monasteries and temples from around the Kingdom of Bhutan. The very last two Manips, who were 75 and 90 years old at the time, also trained over 20 young lay monastics, the spiritual songs and how to care, handle and use the Tashigomangs.