Singing Bowls: Sound, Ritual, and Craft in the Himalaya
The hand-hammered metal bowls found across the Himalaya are as much acoustic instruments as spiritual tools. Here's how they're made — and what they're for.
Dudhpokhari Admin
Dudhpokhari Museum
Himalayan singing bowls are shaped from an alloy of several metals, hand-hammered by artisans into a form that, when struck or rimmed with a wooden mallet, produces a sustained harmonic tone. Their use spans meditation practice, ritual, and — more recently — sound therapy.
In the Collection
Our collection includes bowls ranging from a small 14cm meditation bowl to a large ceremonial piece over 30cm across, donated by a Thakali family from Marpha. Each carries hammer marks unique to its maker.
Tags
ritual objects
craft
himalaya