Monks carrying banners at Sertreng festival

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2001.59.9.38.2 (Print)

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Key Information

Photographer

Hugh E. Richardson

Collection

Hugh Richardson

Date of Photo

1949-50

Region

Lhasa > Potala (foot of)

Accession number

2001.59.9.38.2

Image Dimensions

125 x 175 mm

Monks carrying banners waiting in the procession below the Potala at the Sertreng festival held on the 30th day of the second Tibetan month.

Further Information

Activity

Ritual Activity

Photographic Process

Print silver , Enlargement

Date Acquired

Donated August 2001

Donated by

The executors of the estate of Hugh E. Richardson

Expedition

Hugh E. Richardson

Other Information

Notes on print - 'Banner-carriers at Tsogcho Sertreng' (in blue ink) and 'Tshog mchod' (in pencil) is written on the reverse of print in Richardson's hand. [KC 21/9/2006]

Notes on negative album - ' A. CEREMONIES. SCAPEGOAT. SERPANG. ORACLE KARMASHAR. CHIPGYOR. LHA BSDUR NECHONG. YASO. LUKHANG BOATS. GANGTOK WARRIORS.'

Other Information - This image appeared in the 2003 Temporary Exhibition at the Pitt Rivers Museum "Seeing Lhasa: British Depictions of the Tibetan Capital 1936-1947".

Research publication - Clare Harris and Tsering Shakya (eds.)
Seeing Lhasa , 2003, Chicago:Serindia Publications p. 80 'Carriers of banners leave for the procession around the Potala' but listed as 2001.59.9.33.1 (p. 6).

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Richardson's Handlist - 'Vol. Album 'A' 21-48 'Tshog-mchod Gser-'phreng Other photographs in Album C nos 34-47. The Tshog mchod was instituted by Samgs-rgyas Rgya-mtsho in memory of the Vth Dalai Lama. The Gser-'phreng procession is said to represent a dream the Dalai Lama had. 21. the great banner on the Potala. 22-23 do.' [KC 17/09/2006]

Other Information - Background: Richardson describes the Sertreng ceremony in
Ceremonies of the Lhasa Year, 1993, London, Serindia Publications, pp. 74-81. " ... a spectacular ceremony, the Sertreng, in which hundreds of participants marched round the Potala with banners, religious objects and music. ... the Koku - "The Silk Image" - a great appliqué banner which covers the lower face of he Potala for a space of some 75 by 40 feet. It consists of two panels, one rather larger than the other; in the centre of which is a huge figure of the Buddha surrounded by many deities and bodhisattvas. The privilege of hauling it up is enjoyed by the monks of the Pempora college of Drepung. ..." [KC 12/8/2006] "The rocky slopes of the Potala hill are already crowded with onlookers who also surround the open space at the west end of the Sho precinct under which lie the state graneries. ... Then at intervals throughout the morning different dancers in a great variety of dress come in succession. (pp.76-7)

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Monks carrying banners at Sertreng festival " 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_2001.59.9.38.2.html>.

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