Prayerflags

Tibetan prayerflags (Tibetan: lungta, which means wind horse) are an important part of Tibetan Buddhism. Traditionally they are used to spread prayers, mantras and blessings through the wind to the world. Tibetans believe that when the prayers and mantras are blown in the wind, they rise to the gods, bringing prosperity to the person who hung them, their family, friends, acquaintances and even enemies. By hanging the flags in high places the ta, the wind horse, can bring blessings to all living beings. In doing so, the air itself is purified by the flags. The prayer flags often contain the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" what is connected to compassion and the Buddha Avalokiteshvara.

Old flags often lose their colours due to the weather and wind. It is believed that this is because the prayers are slowly absorbed into the environment. Just as life is a cycle of death and rebirth, Tibetans hang new flags next to the old ones, to symbolize the self-renewal aspect of life.

Meaning of the colours
Each colour on the prayerflags symbolizes an element and a wind direction.

I have made the photos below myself during my travels in Nepal. On the first picture you'll see the enormous amount of prayerflags hanged in the Swayambhunath temple in Kathmandu and on the second photo you'll see a vertical prayerfalg in Lumbini, the birthplace of The Buddha.