Tsongkapa Butter Lamp Festival lights up Lhasa

Tsongkapa Butter Lamp Festival lights up Lhasa11:07, December 02, 2010  •5.2-magnitude earthquake jolts Tibet
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As the Tsongkapa Butter Lamp Festival falls on the 26th of the tenth month on the Tibetan calendar this year, the whole city of Lhasa was lit up by numerous butter lamps on window sills, streets, balconies and monasteries. Tens of thousands of people were flocking into the Barkor Sreet to celebrate the grand festival from around 6:00 pm till late11pm on the day, reported by Jan in Lhasa from China Tibet Online on Dec.1.

"I've been living in Lhasa for more than ten years. Every year my family and relatives come to Lhasa to enjoy the festival together with me. Though it is a little bit hard for the seniors of our family, they are still happy to be here!"said Lojie from Ngapa Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province was happy to celebrate the great festival with his family, who has spent as long as one month to travel to Lhasa from their hometown.

People gathered on the square of the Johkang Temple and started their ritual walk around the Barkor streets after sunset. Lamas of the Johkang Temple lit up butter lamps standing in line on the roof of the temple and started their religious practices such as reciting Buddhist scriptures, playing conch and praying around 8:00 pm. Countless butter lamps were flickering in the night, all of which brightened the holy city of Lhasa.

The Tsongkapa Butter Lamp Festival is a traditional Tibetan festival to commemorate the famous Tibetan Buddhist master Tsongkapa, who was the founder of the Gelug Sect, and passed away on October 26 on the Tibetan calendar in the year of 1419. Pilgrims and Tibetan people always come to the Johkang Temple to do their praying in the evening of the day and pay their respect to the Buddhist master. Religious practicessuch as incense burning, ritual walks around the Barkor street, as well as praying and alms giving are often held.

Source: China Tibet Information Center

 

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