Tibet Festival – Illumination Festival

Tibetans celebrate the Illumination Festival in honor of the founder of Gelug Sect – Tsongkhapa. The celebration of this festival would be held on October 25th according to Tibetan calendar. All the monasteries and the followers of Gelug Sect would light the butter lamps on the altars day and night.

Celebration of Illumination Festival

Tibetans would dress on their best costumes and collect at the monasteries of Gelug Sect on the Illumination Festival. They would pray for the Buddhas while chanting the Buddhism scriptures. They would also kowtow to the Buddhas to ask for blessing. The male Tibetans would ride their horse and bring some twigs of the cypress trees to the altar of the village. A solemn simmer ceremony would be held in front of the altar.

Later, the horseman would present a performance for the villagers and the lamas in the monasteries. The aged Tibetans would drink and chat on the bleachers while the folk artisans singing for them. They would enjoy the entertainment activities late into the night of the Illumination Festival.

During the Illumination Festival, local Tibetans would light up numerous butter lamps on the roof of their houses. They would also chant the Buddhism scriptures to show their respect to Tsongkhapa who achieved his attainment in cultivation on that day. Tourosts planning a Tibet festival tour during the Illumination Festival would be deeply touched by the devout Tibetans.