Thanka paintings are covered by a gossamer thin sheet of yellow silk (Tib.: zhal-khebs) that protects it from dust and from the smoke of the butter lamps in Tibetan monasteries. They also have two silk ribbons that traditionally are used to tie the rolled scroll.
Start
To display the Thanka the protective covering is gathered at the top and held with one of the two strings there, and the first of the two ribbons is placed in front of the painting. This is done according to the following four steps:
First Step
Starting at the bottom and continuing to the top, fold the cover in a zigzag pattern (/\/\/\/\) two/three finger-width parts.
Second Step
Be sure the second string is in front of the silk cover.
Third Step<
Pull the middle third of the folded cov
Fourth Step
Pull this gathered cover down several inches in front of the string, so that the single folds are visible. Arrange the silk to form an attractive pattern of folds. Place the two ribbons infront.
Sixth
Finished draped thangka