Colourful Buddhist prayer flags mounted on Bodnath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal (fig.). Prayer flags are usually flown on a horizontal string, in sets of five colours, that represent the elements, i.e. sky, wind, fire, water and earth.

Prayer flags are traditionally arranged in that specific order, starting with blue, then white, red, green, and finally yellow, as can be seen here in Lumbini Garden, the birthplace of the Buddha in present-day Nepal.