Knitted Prayer Flag Pattern

This year I have started to take compassionate charity work seriously and have looked for a project I want to put my time into. After hearing the Dalai Lama speak, I was moved to help nomadic Tibetan tribes living high up in the mountains in the area that is now China. If the kids there aren't able to go to school they won't learn Tibetan language and history, essentially Tibetan culture won't take many generations to die out. I found this organization, Danakosha Aid (http://danakoshaaid.fi/), that is helping to build a school for the kids to go to and live at. Their families will also receive aid. If you want to see a video of the area and the people go to http://youtu.be/-Nir3rQRIaU.

If you want to practice compassion as well, you can help buy donating in the form of buying this pattern I designed at ravelry.com: Tiriki Designs, contributions to Danakosha Aid. Click here!

All proceeds go to the project in full.

This pattern was designed specifically for the building and upkeep of the Gegong school (see danakoshaaid.fi or the blogposts below for more details). All donations go directly to that fund in full.

Any information or symbolism in this pattern is produced solely by the author of the pattern and do not represent the teachings of Danakosha Finland.

The use of prayer flags dates back to pre-Buddhist traditions in Tibet. It is believed that the special blessing power of what is printed on prayer flags (mantras, special prayers and auspicious symbols) is spread all over the world by the wind, therefore the flags are strung on ropes and hung from a pole or between two poles.

You can hang your banner anywhere it makes you happy. If you wish to make your flags symbolic, the prayer part of the flags can be whatever images or symbols you decide to paint, embroider or sew onto the flags (there are some Buddhist symbol suggestions in the instructions) or the prayer can simply be wishes and intentions that you knit into the flag stitch by stitch. Traditionally prayer flags are medium/dark blue (sky), white (clouds), red (fire), green (water) and yellow (earth) flags, but you can choose any colors that please you. Traditionally they are also rectangular. As knitting curls, I have made these more like traditional banners. And this knit version withstands wind well J

Have a loving day and let your spirit fly!!