"Here in the middle is the spiritual horse, and all around are the Buddhist gods," he says, pointing out the figures on the top of the cloth. "Below that is a Tibetan prayer, and at the bottom we have written our names and the names of others we are praying for."

He grasps the corners of the khimorin and fans the flames slowly, purifying the cloth with sacred smoke. After a time he moves to the top of the hill, where he ties the khimorin to one of the sticks. The wind is harsh on the hillside, snapping the multi-colored cloths with each gust.