Resemblance of Tibetan Lha Rten with Nanda Devi’s Doli – A Shared Himalayan Tradition

When we see the doli of Maa Nanda Devi moving during a yatra, the villagers say with devotion, “Maa is going, Maa is coming.” For them, the doli is not just wood and cloth – it is the goddess herself. Interestingly, in Tibet and nearby regions like Lahaul-Spiti, there is something very similar. It is called the Lha rten.

The word lha rten means the “seat or support of the god.” It looks very different from our wooden doli, but the idea is almost the same. The lha rten is made of a bundle of sticks, wrapped with many white scarves and colourful strips of cloth. On its top are fixed two or three tridents, and sometimes there is a metal image of a Buddhist deity, a photo of a Lama, or even a shining circular mirror. People don’t see it as just decoration – for them, the lha rten itself is the god in physical form. Whenever it is carried outside the temple, the locals say with respect, “The god is coming, the god is going.”

In Lahaul, the main deity Gephan (also called Gepang) is worshipped in this way. His lha rten is made from a tall cedar tree trunk, almost twenty feet long. The thicker end is decorated with colourful silk and cotton cloth until it becomes nearly two and a half feet wide. A silver or sometimes even a gold crown is placed on top, making it look royal. The rest of the trunk is also wrapped in bright clothes, and a T-shaped handle is attached at the bottom so that devotees can carry it.

Here comes the most fascinating part – when the lha rten is lifted, people believe that the god himself controls the movement. If the deity wants to go in a particular direction, the lha rten becomes very light. But if the path is wrong or the god is not pleased, it suddenly turns heavy and even pulls back. The movements of the lha rten are taken as the signs of the god’s will, very similar to how the shaking or swinging of Nanda Devi’s doli is seen during her journeys.

Still, there is one difference between the two traditions. In Uttarakhand, the doli of Nanda Devi has to be prepared and decorated fully before the goddess is invoked in it. In contrast, the lha rten of Tibet and Lahaul is always ready. It does not need special preparation – it is considered the deity itself at all times.

So, whether it is the doli of Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand or the lha rten of Tibet, both show how deeply the Himalayan people believe that their gods walk with them, travel with them, and guide their lives directly.

Quick Comparison: Doli vs Lha rten

If we look closely, we see that the faith of the Himalayan people – whether in Uttarakhand, Himachal, Tibet, or Nepal – has the same spirit. The gods are not kept far away in temples alone. Instead, they are believed to move with the people, travel with them, and guide their daily lives. The doli of Nanda Devi and the lha rten of Tibet are two beautiful examples of this shared belief.

This shows how the Himalayas, despite being divided by borders and languages, carry a common cultural heartbeat that connects all its people through their devotion and traditions.

If you want to read in detail about the complete journey, its route, history, and mythological significance, I have already written a dedicated article on it:
Maa Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra 2026 – A Sacred Himalayan Pilgrimage – mohitbangari.com

– Mohit Banagari