The two wooden gates, carved only by males, are erected at the upper and lower entrance paths of each Akha village, to guard against bad ghosts. If an Akha has the creepy feeling that a demon is somehow hitching a ride and can't be shaken off, the tribesman can purposely walk through the village's entrance gates. The evil spirit has to leap off, because the gates are imbued with sacrifices made to appease mightier, protective forces. Acquiring gates strong enough to guard an entire village is no easy task. Every year, usually in spring, Akhas construct a new set of gates, and perform elaborate rituals, and animal sacrifices, to saturate the gates with celestial power.
Gates often feature enlarged phalluses and other fertility symbols, amid hopes of a boon.
After the gates are positioned, no one is allowed to touch them. Such defilement would mean new gates must be built, and another animal sacrifice performed. The totems and carvings on the gates can also symbolize terrible items which the village wants to protect itself against, such as predatory animals, weapons and other viciousness. Gates sometimes display carved, wooden weapons such as guns, grenades, and AK-47 assault rifles. Carved birds represent any troublesome, flying seed-eater.