The Tibet Autonomous Region has promulgated regulations to protect traditional celestial burial, in which bodies are cut up and fed to birds of prey.
Celestial burial is widely carried out in Tibet as more than 80 percent of Tibetan people still abide by this ancient Tibetan practice.
According to Tibetan custom, those individuals who die by way of stabbing, shooting, poisoning or contagious diseases are not permitted to be celestially buried.
The new regulation forbids surrounding and watching, taking pictures and video-recording the rituals so as not to disturb the birds of prey.
The regulation also demands respect for celestial burial masters. In Tibet, there are less than 100 licensed celestial burial masters and more than 1,000 celestial burial grounds.  |
