Etiquettes and Taboos in Tibet
With unique culture and religion, Tibetans have different ways of behavior in many aspects. The following is about some of Etiquettes and Taboos in Tibetan.
Traditional Practices
- Presenting Hada (or Khatag) is traditional practice of respect and hospitality in Tibet, and will be appreciated by your host. If you are presenting a Hada to a statue or a high lama, raise the Hada above your shoulder and bow. When you receive a Hada, it is proper to accept with both your hands.
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Respectful Use of Personal Space: When interacting with Tibetan people, it is important to maintain a respectful distance. Avoid physical contact, such as touching the head of an adult, as this can be considered disrespectful.
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Offering and Receiving Food: When offering food to a Tibetan, ensure that it is presented with your right hand, as the right hand is considered more auspicious and respectful. Similarly, when receiving food, accept it with your right hand if possible.
When you are visiting Tibetan Home or Temple
- Entering a Home or Tent: Remember not to step on threshold when entering the tent or house.
- Calling somebody in name please add 'la' behind the name to express respects.
- Sitting Etiquette: If you are asked to sit down, please cross your legs, do not stretch your legs forward and face your sole to others.
Gift-Giving and Receiving
- Accepting Gifts: You should accept the gift with both hands. While presenting the gift you should bend your body forward and hold the gift higher than your head with both hands.
- Offering Beverages: While offering tea, wine or cigarette, you should offer them by both hands and any fingers do not touch inside of the bowl.
Religious
- Respect for Religious Items: Do not touch, walk over or sit on any religious texts, objects or prayer flags in monasteries.
- Offering Wine: When the host presents you a cup of wine, you should dip your ring finger in the wine and flick the wine into the sky, in the air and to the ground respectively to express your respects to the heaven, the earth and the ancestors before sipping the wine. The host will fill the cup, and you take a sip of the wine again. After the host fills your cup again, you have to bottom it up.
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Sacred Lakes: Many lakes in Tibet are considered sacred, such as Lake Yamdrok, Lake Namtso and Manasarovar. Swimming in these lakes can be seen as disrespectful to local beliefs and spiritual practices. These lakes are often associated with important deities and are treated with reverence.
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Cultural Sensitivity: It is important to respect local customs and religious sentiments regarding bodies of water. Even if a lake is not explicitly marked as sacred, it is best to avoid swimming unless you are certain it is acceptable.
Dietary Practices
- Tibetan people do not eat horse, dog and donkey meat and also do not eat fish in some areas, so please respect their diet habits.
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Eating Etiquette: When eating, it is customary to use your right hand. If sharing a meal, wait for the host to start before serving yourself.
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No Eating in Public: It is generally considered inappropriate to eat in public places or while walking around. Meals are often enjoyed in private or in designated eating areas.
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Avoiding Inappropriate Behavior: Do not touch or handle food with your left hand. Additionally, avoid placing your feet or shoes on tables or in areas where food is prepared or served.
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Sharing Meals: It is a common practice to share food with others, and it is considered polite to offer a portion of your food to those around you, including guests and family members.
Social Behavior
- Avoiding Certain Actions: It is not polite to clap your palms and spit behind the Tibetan people.
- Greeting Customs: Tibetan people stretch out their tongue to say hello to you. Also it is a courtesy to put their hands palm in front of chest.
Monastic and Sacred Places
- Do not smoke in monasteries. Also it is banned to touch the statue of Buddha and religious articles and take pictures of them. In addition, all should walk clockwise (not in the Bon temples).
- Dressing for Monastery or Sacred Places: Don't wear shorts, especially go to visit monasteries, temples.
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Respecting Monastic Silence: In monasteries, maintain a respectful silence and avoid speaking loudly or making unnecessary noise. Monks and visitors alike value tranquility and meditation, so your quiet demeanor is appreciated.
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Proper Conduct During Rituals: If you happen to witness or participate in a religious ritual, follow the lead of the practitioners and avoid interrupting or deviating from the prescribed actions. It is respectful to observe quietly and not interfere with the ritual process.
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Respecting Offerings: When making offerings at a shrine or altar, place your offerings gently and respectfully, ensuring they are clean and presented in a humble manner. It is customary to bow slightly as you make the offering.
Respect for Wildlife
- Seeing any dagobas, monasteries or Mani piles, please go around them clockwise (not of the Bon), do not cross them.
- Eagles are the sacred birds in the eyes of the Tibetan people. You should not drive them away or injure them. On the outskirts, you could not drive or disturb the sheep or cows with red, green or yellow cloth strips on.
Since more and more tourists are going to Tibet, more and more Tibetan people get used of seeing the 'Big Noses' (western people) with jeans, sun glasses and some of them with shorts. The above rules are not obeyed so strictly as before. But we still suggest you take the above advices and travel to behave well.