In the Tibetan tradition, khatas are offered in a spirit of honor, love and respect to spiritual images and statues of Buddha, spiritual teachers, monks, nuns and to political leaders such as H.H. The Dalai Lama. It is very common for Tibetan people, and others following their tradition, to hang white silk scarves over their altars and around the sacred objects that adorn them. In the Tibetan tradition it is an honor for a person to be bestowed with this genuine act of blessing.

President Obama honored this powerful tradition at his Inauguration Day ceremony. While President Obama was being sworn in as President of the United States, he was carrying a white silk scarf, or khata, blessed by H.H. the Dalai Lama, in his pocket.

This is testament that traditions travel far and wide, crossing borders and boundaries, from generation to generation, for centuries at a time. The auspicious offering of khatas, holy white silk scarves, is an ancient Tibetan tradition which is still being honored today. It is a beautiful offering to spiritual images, spiritual teachers and objects of devotion; as well as in religious and political ceremonies, marriage ceremonies, funeral ceremonies, births and in any event in which one feels inspired to offer his/her purest blessing.

H.H. the Dalai Lama travels all over the world teaching the Buddhist path of compassion and loving kindness. If you have the opportunity to attend a teaching, which is a blessing in itself, remember to buy a luxurious white silk scarf and carry it with you to be blessed by H.H. the Dalai Lama. If you feel like sharing this beautiful offering with others, carry a few extra white silk scarves with you to give to the ones you love. The offering of khatas is a beautiful way to offer one's purest blessing to another.

This beautiful Silk Brocade Scarf is 8 ft. long and is embossed
with the 8 Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism:
The Lotus flower - Representing purity and enlightenment.
The Endless knot, or, the Mandala - Representing harmony.
The Golden Fish Pair - Representing conjugal happiness and freedom.
The Victory Banner - Representing a victorious battle.
The Wheel of Dharma or Chamaru in Nepali Buddhism - Representing knowledge.
The Treasure Vase - Representing inexhaustible treasure and wealth.
The Parasol - Representing the crown, and protection from the elements.
The Conch Shell - Representing the thoughts of the Buddha.

Far East Handicrafts was founded on Fair Trade principles in 1988. They work directly with the crafts people to ensure fair wages and good working conditions. All of the products are made by hand so no two items are alike. Far East Handicrafts does not import antiques but supports the making of new items in traditional and ancient art forms, thus keeping these traditions alive.

Far East Handicrafts also supports many medical and educational aid projects in Nepal through The Stephen R. Novak Foundation, begun in memory of the founder of Far East Handicrafts, Steve Novak (1967-1995). The Foundation sponsors a hill tribe school, the Shree Mahankal Primary School. They provide their school supplies and have enabled an additional building to be constructed as well as toilets and landscaping to prevent damage from monsoon run-off. The Foundation is also a member of the Joy Foundation Nepal, which works in conjunction with the Tilganga Eye Centre of Kathmandu to provide free eye care and cataract surgery to the poorest of the people of Nepal living in remote regions where they cannot afford such care. Nepali doctors, nurses and technicians from the Tilgonga Eye Centre offer their time. The Joy Foundation provides food and shelter for the hundreds of patients that will walk for days with the assistance of family and friends to receive eye care. In a country where people must daily walk on steep and treacherous paths to get around, restoring a person's eyesight truly gives them their life back and instead of being a burden, enables them to be a productive member of their family and tribe once again.