Tibet Festival – Great Prayer Festival

The Great Prayer Festival is an unalloyed religious festival. It is a traditional Tibet festival with a history of about 600 years and could be dated back to 1409.

Brief Introduction of Great Prayer Festival

The Great Prayer Festival was established by Tsongkhapa (the founder of Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism) in honor of Sakyamuni. This festival was firstly celebrated in Lhasa in 1409. Hence, the celebration of the Great Prayer Festival would last from January 1st to January 25th according to the Tibetan calendar.

Great Prayer Festival is the greatest religious festival in Tibet. Lamas and followers of the Tibetan Buddhism from every corner of Tibet would collect in Jokhang Temple to worship Sakyamuni since they regard it as the living Buddha. Pilgrims would also offer donations to the lamas. Tourists planning a Tibet festival tour during the Great Prayer Festival could explore the profound Buddhism culture and learn more about the devout Tibetans.

Celebration of Great Prayer Festival

Lamas from various regions of Tibet would collect in Jokhang Temple during the Great Prayer Festival. They would chant and debate the Buddhism scriptures in the temple. The debating scene looks pretty magnificent. The lamas would also raise questions to the elites of Tibetan Buddhism and debate with them. The devout followers of Tibetan Buddhism would also crowd the second floor of Jokhang Temple and throw their Hada to the chanting lamas.

The Butter Lamp Festival is on January 15th according to the Tibetan calendar. It would be the most boisterous night of the Great Prayer Festival. With the decoration of various colorful butter lamps, Barkhor Street became a miraculous and beautiful world. Those butter camps with various shapes and colors make Barkhor Street bright and splendid.

Local Tibetans would also hold a special ceremony on Lubu Square (located in the southwest of Jokhang Temple) to drive off the ghost and evils. On January 25th, the lamas in Jokhang Temple would carry out the statue of Maitreya and make a circumambulation along Barkhor Street. Then the Great Prayer Festival would conclude successfully.