KHATA

TIBETAN SCARVES

KHATA, or KATA, or KATHA, or KATAG . Many ways people say or write it, but its the same. (Traditional Tibetan Scarf)

Khata is an informal term and Jael-dhar is the formal term, for traditional Tibetan offering scarf. Khatas are made of cotton, silk or other materials. They look more like a long scarf and have auspicious symbols or mantras inscribed or woven into the fabric. It represents the sincerety of ones offering, with no negative thoughts or motives in mind.They come predominantly in shades of white or ivory, due to the purity of the color but you will also find them in Blue,Red,Green and Yellow/Gold Yellow. It is a part of Tibetan way of life from birth to death and between. It is also used as a sign of recognition of one's love or respect for another. The offering of Khata is probably one of the most well known customs of Tibetan culture. Something that one could call a Tibetan bouquet, that is very reusable and one specific Khata may travel the world over.

Historically, Khatas' have been in use in the Tibetan culture for many centuries, there are 3 schools of thoughts, due to the neglect in small day to day customs being put in writing, these have been mostly transferred by word of mouth, through the generations. One school believes that it started in the 7th Century AD during the rule of King SongTsen Gompo. He would present any minister or citizen who did a good job with a skin of a prized animal, like tigers, leopards, foxes or others.

With the advent of Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century as a State religion, the then King Trisong DeuTsen, Guru Rinpoche (Acharya Padmasambhava), Abbot Shantarakshita and others leaders, discouraged the giving of animal skin, as it required the killing of an animal for the fur or skin. Aware of the Indian tradition of giving offerings of sets of new clothing to the teachers or Guru, the tradition of giving the skin of prized animals was soon replaced with expensive brocades from China. Then to present day Khatas with the passage of time. The second school of thoughts say that it was prevalent in the nomadic communities of Tibet before the advent of Buddhism, even upto the Chinese invasion in 1950's in some remote parts of Utsang and some regions close by, and may still be used, traditionally people would put Tsampa on the shoulders of people that came to their homes for work or visit to signify the purity of their wishes of respect, welcome or fare well.This ceremony was called Kartak. It was put on the right shoulder on men and left on women. It was decoratively displayed with symbols and greetings on floors to welcome high lama or officials, which is still done to this day. Tsampa, a roasted barley or any roasted grain flour was/is the staple diet in Tibet.The ceremony was done on all aspects of day to day life and with time the need for putting it around vases full of water offerings moved it to white wollen threads and eventually to present day Khatas.

The other school belief is it originated in India or China, but these are just biased thoughts from our view as they seem not to be used in these both communities currently. Then with the passage of time, the expensive brocades were replaced with scarves made of cotton and silk. These days you will see all the five colors of the elements of the earth, Blue, White, Red, Green and Yellow. Mostly in shades of white or ivory is what you will find commonly used. Khatas come in a wide selection of different lengths, fabrics and quality.

The offering of a scarf may seem to be a simple gesture but in Tibetan tradition it has its own significance and protocol and is governed by tradition. To present a Khata you first fold it in half length-wise, this represents the interdepencence of each other. Then when you offer the scarf to the person, you offer the open edges facing the person you are giving it to, the folded section will be towards you, which represents your open pure heart, with no negative thoughts or motives in the offering.

Offering of Khatas would fall under 2 groups very broadly, with greetings and well wishes being the common in both offerings.

HOW TO OFFER A KHATA:

RESPECT/GRATITUDE: For holy sites, honored monks, teachers, diginitaries and elders, the scarf is given with folded hands near your forehead, with a humble bow before them, with head bent over and palms joined in respect. You never put the Khata over their neck in this situation.In most cases the giver will receive his/her Khata back from the given, as a token of blessing back to them, specially when you visit high lamas and teachers. It is custom to put Khatas over statues, thangka painting, pictures of reincarnated rinpoche's and altar spaces.A Khata offered to H. H. the Dalai Lama and received back by a Tibetan personally will be cherished and preciously kept as it is now a very special blessing ,talisman and protector. It may never come back into recirculation from that Tibetan again. It is also flown and put on Prayer Flags before one hangs them as a sign of your prayers being sincere and pure, also as an offering to the Gods for swift accomplishment of prayers and wishes.

AFFECTION/CELEBRATION: This is for special events, like marriage, birthdays, newyear,farewell & safe journey, welcome home, honor celebration of events and happenings, death ceremony and other day to day events in lifes journey.In the event of these occasions you can offer scarfs around the neck of recepients provided they are not from the first category, or lay it over the body in case of a deceased.

THUK JE CHE THUK JE CHE THUK JE CHE THANK YOU

MINI Traditional Tibetan Khata

9" x 32"

MINI: Plain Khata in Ivory/off white shade, one scarf only. Each Khata is 9" wide and total length of the scarf is about 32 inches long.

SHORT Traditional Tibetan Khata

12" x 43"

SHORT: This is available in Ivory & White colors. This is a silk like finish of a lower quality,not silk at all, it has the Tashi Targay (8 auspicious symbols), around the borders and the Tashi Targay in its collect vase design in the middle and inscribed in Tibetan along the width of the 2 ends of the scarf " Tashi Delek, Phu Som Tsok." which means "May Happiness and Good fortune all be yours"

MEDIUM - Traditional Tibetan Khata

12" X 60" Khata

MEDIUM: This is available in White and Ivory. This is a also of a silk like finish, not silk, but a little better quality than the Small size, it has the Tashi Targay (8 auspicious symbols), around the borders as each separately and inscribed in Tibetan along the width of the 2 ends of the scarf, are the words" Tashi Delek, Phu Som Tsok." which means "May Happiness and Good fortune all be yours".

Other Options

LONG - Traditional Tibetan Khata

14-20" Width X 72-90" Length Khata

LONG: This is available in White and Ivory. This is a also of a silk like finish, not silk, but a little better quality than the Small size, it has the Tashi Targay (8 auspicious symbols), around the borders as each separately and inscribed in Tibetan along the width of the 2 ends of the scarf, are the words" Tashi Delek, Phu Som Tsok." which means "May Happiness and Good fortune all be yours".

Other Options

Medium - 5 Colors - Traditional Tibetan

16"-18" wide and the length of scarf is about 6 ft.

MEDIUM: This is a beautifully made Khata and is available in all 5 colors, Blue, White, Red, Green, and Yellow. It has theTashi Targay (8 auspicious symbols), in rows of 3 each, with eight rows, the symbols each measure around 7 inches and has about 2.5 inches spacing between each symbol and inscribed in Tibetan along the width of the 2 ends of the scarf, are 4 rows of words of wishes, First row" Kunchok sum gyi Tashi Shoo." which means "May the 3 Jewel of the Dharma have Happiness and Good fortune". 2nd Row, "Nyin Tsen tak toe Delek ". Which means, "Day and night may you have happiness and Joy". 3rd Row, " Nyimae Gong Yang Delek Shoo" this means, " During the Day too may you have joy and happiness". The 4th Rowreads " Nyimo Delek! Tsen Delek!" which is to be like saying " Good day and Good night". The same words of wishes are repeated on both sides of the width of the scarf. The fabric has a nice feel and gives the look of silk, but not silk.

LONG - 5 Colors - Traditional Tibetan

17"-19" wide and the length of scarf is about 8 ft-10 ft.

LONG: This is a beautifully made Khata and is available in all 5 colors, Blue, White, Red, Green, and Yellow. It has theTashi Targay (8 auspicious symbols), in rows of 3 each, with eight rows, the symbols each measure around 7 inches and has about 2.5 inches spacing between each symbol and inscribed in Tibetan along the width of the 2 ends of the scarf, are 4 rows of words of wishes, First row" Kunchok sum gyi Tashi Shoo." which means "May the 3 Jewel of the Dharma have Happiness and Good fortune".2nd Row, "Nyin Tsen tak toe Delek ". Which means, "Day and night may you have happiness and Joy". 3rd Row, " Nyimae Gong Yang Delek Shoo" this means, " During the Day too may you have joy and happiness". The 4th Rowreads " Nyimo Delek! Tsen Delek!" which is to be like saying " Good day and Good night". The same words of wishes are repeated on both sides of the width of the scarf. The fabric has a nice feel and gives the look of silk, but not silk.