Saddlebag

Gelta godrel refers to the saddlebags commonly used throughout Tibet. In local dialect they are called talen. The shape and size of the talen depends on its function. For instance, the saddle bags laid across a horse's or ox’s back are called talen chenpo (big talen), whereas the bags for everyday food such as tsampa, bowls, butter, cheese and other snack bags are called talen chungwa (small talen). The commonly encountered small saddle bags in Amdo are not always used for foodstuffs but is also used for herbal medicines. The small saddle bags are usually made of leather and cloth, which have the same shape as the big saddle bags. A pair of covered bags can be laid across the back of livestock or on men’s shoulders.