How do I define colour

by Charishma Konchada (India)

I didn't expect to find Bhutan

I reached at the top of the mountain breathing heavily with a mountain dog who showed me the right direction when I was almost lost.There was nothing over there but a giant prayer wheel which is still and a great view.I tried to spin it and failed as I felt it’s too heavy to be moved by human.I sat there at the edge along with my new friend, both eating biscuits.My breath slowly evened with time and I looked down at the monastery which is looking like a nest placed at the edge of 10,000 feet height tree.Then I heard a prayer wheel rotating, reverberating the sound into the space as it hits the small bell placed at the top and the echo running into my ears and then veins,maybe also reached my heart.I turned back to find the wheel rotating with no one around.“But how it’s rotating, there’s no way wind could do it” I thought. I almost missed that there’s a person, must be in his forties,that’s coming from the left side of this giant wheel,rotating it.A red robe draped over his body gave me no urge to question if he’s a monk.He had a serene smile.The dog ran to him and then he gave some food.He sat five feet apart,cross legged,facing the monastery,dog by his side.He said by patting the dog “He knows well what people are looking for.have you lost your way?” I looked at the dog,smiled,took a long breath and said “He made me turn back from the wrong path”.The monk had calm eyes.Then I turned back to face the monastery and wondered about the coloured flags. Then I asked him “What’s up with those coloured flags? How does it look that magnificent just with five colours?” He had the same smile all along,nothing less nothing more.He asked me a question instead? “What do you see around you,here?” I looked around to find that most of it is green with rhododendrons,cherry blossoms and many of which I don’t know the names for.Then I looked up at the sky and the sun hiding and coming back from behind the clouds.Then there’s light snowfall which is turning into rain drops as it’s going down and evaporating without even reaching the ground.I looked back at the monastery and saw the butter lamps people lighting and offering to the god.But how’s it withstanding this heavy wind.It’s not that windy to blow off the huts but it was more than enough to turn of the small lamp fire,yet they glow as bright as they could.And I felt the same wind twirling my hair.I could also hear water sound coming from a small waterfall that is around. Appreciating nature in front,I thought to myself “How many colours do you need to make something beautiful?” and smiled at him. He said,“These are prayer flags believed to promote the positive energy,peace,compassion,strength and wisdom with wind that carries it.These five colours represent five basic elements as sky,earth,water,fire,air which you can see now.We often made to believe that Happiness is a place, it’s but because of what it’s made.So, whenever I see these,I feel it as my place.I don’t see the colours,I feel them that made the painting beautiful.To me blue is sky,earth is That’s how I define a colour?” “How do I define colour?” Ever since,this question has been echoing in my mind.