Tibetan's Etiquette

Present Hada
Hada is a piece of silk used as a greeting gift among the Tibetan nationalities. Present hada is a common practice among the Tibetan people to express their best wishes on many occasions, such as wedding ceremonies, festivals, visiting the elders and the betters, and entertaining guests. Tibetan like white, they regard white as pure, lucky and rich.

There are also other colors besides white. Blue, yellow and multicolored hada are also made. Multicolored Hada is presented to Buddhist. This hada is the dress of Buddist. The color of it is blue, white,red, green and yellow, and they respectively stand for sky, cloud, river, the guardian of Buddhism and earth.

Bow
In the past, when a Huarui Tibetan meets the senior, he should take off the hat and bow down with 45 degree. The hat is in hands and nearly low to ground. For common people, bow only shows manners, the hat is put down to front of chest and the head lowers only a little.

Some bow with matching the palm. If one bows to the senior, the palms should be higher than the top of the head. When return to a salute, the act is the same.

Kotow
Kotow is common etiquette among Tibetans. Tibetans will kotow to Buddhist image, chorten or a Living Buddha. Sometimes people will also kotow to a senior.

Kotow can be classified to three types, Long Kotow, Short Kotow and Sound Kotow.
Long Kotow is with two hands raising high above the head, and from the top of head to forehead and chest to bow three times, at last grovel on the ground with hands stretching straightly. Then repeat the action.

Short Kotow is with two hands matching in front of the chest and knee down to bow. People would generally bow for three times.

In temples, people will also make Sound Kotow - with two hands matching in front of the chest, bow down to the feet of Buddhist statue, and the head touching the feet. This shows people's confess to Buddhist.