How does the "heavenly burial" take place in Tibet

"Heavenly burial" (jhator or bya gtor) is the main type of burial in Tibet and in a number of areas adjacent to Tibet. It is also called "giving alms to birds". According to Tibetan beliefs, the soul leaves the body at the moment of death, and a person should try to benefit at all stages of life. Therefore, the dead body is fed to the birds as a last manifestation of charity.

To this day, many Tibetans consider this method of burial to be the only possible one for themselves. An exception is made only for the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. Their bodies are embalmed after death and covered with gold.

The "City of Prayer Flags" is a platform created for burial in the vicinity of the Chalang Monastery. Dazhi County (Dari), Qinghai Province, Golog-Tibet Autonomous Region, November 5, 2007. Photo: China Photos/Getty Images

"Heavenly funerals" are practiced throughout the territory of Tibetans, including some Indian territories, such as Ladakh or the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The relatives of the deceased pray during the funeral ceremony in the "City of Prayer Flags", on the site created for burial in the vicinity of the Chalang Monastery.

In 1959, when the Chinese authorities finally established themselves on the territory of Tibet, the rite was completely banned. Since 1974, after numerous requests from monks and Tibetans, the Chinese government has allowed the "Heavenly Funeral" to resume.

The vultures gathered in the "City of Prayer Flags", on the site created for burial in the vicinity of the Chalang Monastery.

Now there are about 1,100 sites for the heavenly burial rite. The ritual is performed by special people-rogyaps.

Rohyapa ("gravedigger") sharpens a knife before the funeral ceremony in the "City of Prayer Flags".

When a Tibetan dies, his body is placed in a sitting position. So he "sits" for 24 hours while the lama reads prayers from the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

These prayers are intended to help the soul progress through the 49 levels of the bardo state between death and rebirth.

Three days after the death, a close friend of the deceased carries him on his back to the place of burial.

Rohyapa first makes many incisions on the body and gives the body to the birds — the vultures do the main part of the work, eating all the flesh.

Next, the "gravedigger" collects and crushes the bones on a special flat stone, mixes the crumbs with tsampa (barley flour with yak oil) and feeds it all to the birds.

The body is destroyed without a trace, in Tibetan Buddhism it is believed that in this way it is easier for the soul to leave the body in order to find a new one.

Tibetans believe that everyone should see the rite of heavenly burial at least once in their life in order to realize and feel all the transience and ephemerality of life.

Rohyapa ("gravedigger") prays before the burial ceremony in the "City of Prayer Flags". The surroundings of the Chalang Monastery. For the burial, rohyapa receives up to 100 yuan (about 13.5 dollars). Dazhi County (Dari), Qinghai Province, Golog-Tibet Autonomous Region, November 5, 2007. Photo: China Photos/Getty Images

Rohyapa crushes the bones of the deceased during the funeral ceremony.

Rohyapa feeds the vultures the meat of the deceased.

Rohyapa cuts the body of the deceased.

Rohyapa prays during the funeral ceremony.

A lama prays during the funeral ceremony in the "City of Prayer Flags".

The rohyapa lama washes his face after the burial ceremony.

The lama-rohyapa, having finished his work, returns home.

Rohyapa, having finished his work, drinks tea with his family.