Tibet Festival – Celebration of Saga Dawa Festival

Saga Dawa Festival is a holy festival for the followers of Tibetan Buddhism. It has close relationship with the founder of Tibetan Buddhism – Sakyamuni. He was born and passed away on April 15th according to Tibetan calendar. Various celebrations would be held in the Tibetan Buddhism monasteries. Tourists planning a Tibet festival tour during Saga Dawa Festival could take part in the alms-giving activity so as to experience the festival atmosphere.

Celebration of Saga Dawa Festival – Circumambulation

Lhasa is regarded as the holy land since the Statue of 12-year old Sakyamuni is enshrined in Jokhang Temple. Lhasa developed into the political, economical and cultural center of Tibet was greatly due to the large number of followers of Tibetan Buddhism who came here for pilgrimage. The transportation paths in Lhasa mainly based on the circumambulation roads.

There are three circumambulations in Lhasa and all of them centers on Jokhang Temple. The largest circumambulation here stretches to Potala Palace, Yaowang Hill and Ramoche Monastery with a length of 20 kilometers.

The devout Tibetans would start the circumambulation early in the morning. They keep chanting the Buddhism scriptures all the way with a prayer wheel or a string of prayer beads in their hand. The colorful Tibetan prayer flags flying on the way of the circumambulation are very attractive. Tibetans would always hang on new prayer flags before the worship ceremony of the Buddha.

Celebration of Saga Dawa Festival – Alms-giving

The prosperous Barkhor Street is relatively desolate since all the stores of the Tibetans would be closed on Saga Dawa Festival. All the people in Lhasa are immersed in the pilgrimage. They would make a circumambulation around Barkhor Street or show their respect to the Buddha in Jokhang Temple.

Alms-giving is a traditional program of Saga Dawa Festival. The aged and weak pilgrims would stop the circumambulation at the noon. They would sit along the pavement outside Potala Palace for begging. Tibetans hold that the Buddha would check whether the rich helped the poor with a kind heart. The local wealthy and the pilgrims would donate something to them so as to prove that they are devout followers of Tibetan Buddhism.

There are 2000-8000 people accepted the alms-giving on Saga Dawa Festival every year. The gross amount of the alms-giving has reached 0.6 million RMB and each beggar obtained 80-100 RMB recent years. Not only the poor could accept the bounties bestowed by the Buddha, the animals (such as the fish in the lake and the holy sheep along the circumambulation) could also receive food from the pilgrims.