Tibet Group Tours - Burning Lantern Festival

If you meet Tibetan Burning Lantern Festival during your Tibet group tour, you can join in the festival ceremony with Tibetan people together. Tibettour.com offers you some knowledge of Tibetan Burning Lantern Festival.

The Origin of Burning Lantern Festival

Burning Lantern Festival is hold in memory of ZongKaBa master, the reformer of Buddhism and the founder of dge-lugs-pa of tibetan Buddhism. It is hold on October 25th of each year. On this day, all the monasteries, temples of Buddhism, all herdsmen of villages will burn Lantern on the altars inside and outside the monasteries and in religious room at home. The lantern would be burning all day and night. The Lantern Festival always lasts for one to two days. It is a traditional religious festival in the area under Case lu ba administration. On the day of 25th of October of Tibetan calendar, it is the Parinirvana day of tsongkhapa master. To memorize this outstanding religious leader, the believers will hold grand Ritual activities, such as chanting, kowtow and burning lantern. People pray the spirit of the deceased will give luck and happiness to virtuous people.

Contents of Burning Lantern Festival

At night of this day, both the monasteries and common families will burn many lanterns around the Buddhism towers, rooftop of the sanctuary, windowsill, niche for a statue of the Buddha, altar and so on. They also put a bowel of pure water on the family hall for worshipping the Buddha. The Buddhism towers and houses are ablaze with lights. People chant sutras devoutly to memorize Tsongkhapa master. Buddhism followers put the ramulus mori into incense burners in front of Jokhang Temple, praying that the Buddha will bring good luck to them of the year.

Burning Lantern Festival in Kangting

In Kangting of Sichuan, people also call the Burning Lantern Festival as “Yuangen Lantern Show”. The festival celebrated in Kangting is interesting. Boys and girls carry lanterns, chasing and playing with each other. Also in some temples, believers will hold ceremony for thefestival. They present Butter Sculpture, and lighten lanterns to worship the Buddha. Followers also lighten lanterns at their home, and then ride the house to Nmo temple to worship. When night comes, they go to Anjue Temple to take part in the Yuangen Lantern show.