27th Kagyu Monlam Special Report -- The Altar Offerings

December 24, 2009, Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, report by Jo Gibson, photos taken by Pema Orser Dorje

 

Once more, this year’s altars feature  Korean-style offerings  commissioned  by the Gyalwang Karmapa. The altars stand each side of the central mandala and are staged on three levels. Traditional Tibetan torma are on the upper level,   interspersed with bouquets of colourful , fragrant  flowers.

On the middle level are the  gwei-im-s’hei ,  a Korean word which means ‘accumulating’. These cyclindrical shaped arrangements are made from carefully stacked and interlaced layers of ingredients such as biscuits, sweets and nuts, arranged into decorative patterns. The finished offering is  covered with plastic film to keep it clean and dustfree.  The third row contains  heaped plates of fruit – dates,  green and yellow oranges, pomegranates, grapefruit, pineapples, papaya,  guavas and bananas.

In Korea the offerings are placed on distinctively shaped bases. In India, these have been  substituted  with white china plates and bowls glued together.