The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama graced the prayer ceremonies on 10th and 15th day of the Saka Dawa: the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar at Tsugla-khang, the main temple of Dharamshala’s Tibetan community.
Shakyamuni Buddha
Tibetan Buddhists believe that the merits of any good deeds that one performs during this month are multiplied over thousand times. Some of the most common things that are done during Saka Dawa are circumambulating, reciting mantras, making prostrations, fasting, shunning meat, releasing captive birds and fishes, giving alms to the poor and visiting temples. Tibetans try their best to eat only vegetarian food during this month.
This year there were many people distributing bottled water and juice for people who were circumambulating and giving money to beggars at the temple and around Lingkor (the path around the residence of His Holiness). Onlookers estimated there were more than 1000 beggars on the 15th day.
According to Radio Free Asia, Tibetans gathered for prayer offerings in Labrang Monastery in Tibet, as well as in Nepal on the 15th day of Saka Dawa. Tibetans in Washington DC also gathered for prayer offerings and celebrated the month of merit.
Saka Dawa is the most sacred of Buddhist holidays which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana (death) of the Buddha Shakyamuni. This festival falls in the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar.
Print
Email