Tibet Festival – Buddha Exhibition Festival of Tashilhunpo Monastery

Buddha Exhibition Festival of Tashilhunpo Monastery is an important religious Tibet festival which has a history of more than 500 years. The celebration of this festival would be last for three days around May 15th according to the Tibetan calendar. One Buddha would be exhibited on each day during the festival. Both the lamas and the followers of Tibetan Buddhism would show their respect to the Buddha and pray for blessing by kowtow or some other religious activities.

Buddha Exhibition Festival of Tashilhunpo Monastery – Exhibition Schedule

Buddha Amitabha (infinite light) would be exhibited on the first day of Buddha Exhibition Festival of Tashilhunpo Monastery. This exhibition aimed to remind people to cherish the memory of the past.

Sakyamuni would be exhibited on the second day of Buddha Exhibition Festival of Tashilhunpo Monastery. The statue of Sakyamuni which would be exhibited was manufactured by the Ninth Panchen Lama. This exhibition aimed to ask people to pray for a life with happiness.

Maitreya (the future Buddha) would be exhibited on the third day of Buddha Exhibition Festival of Tashilhunpo Monastery. This exhibition aimed at encourages people to hold expectations for the future.

Buddha Exhibition Festival of Tashilhunpo Monastery – Special Exhibition Stage

The exhibition stage of the Buddha Exhibition Festival of Tashilhunpo Monastery was built in honor of Sakyamuni (the founder of Tibetan Buddhism) in 1468 by the First Dalai Lama. It was completely laid by stones and the base of the stage deeply located in the rock of Nyma Mountain. The exhibition stage is situated on the hillside. It has a height of 32 meters, a thickness of 3.5 meters. It is 38 meters wide at the upper side while 42.5 meters at the bottom.

The giant Buddha exhibition stage on the hillside of Nyma Mountain in Shigatse looks pretty magnificent. It is even visible from dozens of kilometers away. It is still solid though it has experienced a history of more than 500 years.

Buddha Exhibition Festival of Tashilhunpo Monastery – Circumambulation

After the Buddha exhibition ceremony on the Buddha Exhibition Festival of Tashilhunpo Monastery, the followers of Tibetan Buddhism would make a circumambulation around Tashilhunpo Monastery which was built against Nyma Mountain. The local Tibetans would also sitting together on the culture square, sharing barley wine and the happiness of the Buddha Exhibition Festival.

There are Buddha exhibition festivals in other monasteries in Tibet, but the Buddha exhibition stage in Tashilhunpo Monastery is unique. It is the symbol of Tashilhunpo Monastery, as well as one of the symbols of Shigatse. Hence, there is a large number of tourists would like to make a Tibet festival tour during the Buddha Exhibition Festival of Tashilhunpo Monastery so as to enjoy the noted religious festival atmosphere.

More information about the traditional Tibet festivals: http://www.axingji.com/tibet-festival/