The brief introduction of Tibet festival - Saga Dawa Festival

The forth month of Tibetan Calendar is called Saga Dawa Festival. As legend depicts, Lord Sakyamuni was born in Lumbini in the Saga Dawa Mounth of iron monkey year of Tibetan calendar. On the fifteenth day of Saga Dawa month, Lord Sakyamuni facing east meditated on straw under a giant bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, subdued evil ghosts at nightfall and acquired enlightenment in dawn. On day fifteen of Saga Dawa month of iron dragon yaer, Lord Sakyamuni became the Buddha, the final words in Deer park of Benares city was that suffering is an inherent part of existence; that the origin of sufferign is ignorance and the main symptoms of that ignorance are attachment and craving; that attachment and craving can be ceased, and that following the Noble Eightfold Path will lead to the cessation of attachment and craving and therefore suffering. Tibetan folk takes this month as great creator, so massive people and monks will hold religious activities in the month. To follow this tradition, most people, not to mention monks are refrained from killing and are pious to prayer a half month ahead of Saga Dawa.

In Jokhang Temple, Ramoche Monastery and Paba Lakang of Potala Palace (must-see for Tibet Travel), thousands of offerings are respectively put and all main Buddha sculptures are coated with gold powder and offered butter lamps. On the morning of the fifteenth day, the first thing for pilgrims to do is to present hadas and fill lamp oil to Buddha Sakyamuni, and three compassionate Buddha of Jokhang Temple and Ramoche Monastery. Later, they will follow the ring of prayer. They will walk by Chapori, Norbulinka, Dyikyi Linka and Potala Palace before arriving at the dragon's pool in the noon. Pilgrims practise prayer during the way while burning incense on the mani stones paaed by. They follow traditions and give donation to beggars. Pilgrims who have carried tea and wine will take yak skin boat to enjoy boating in the noon. Langmas will perfom singing and dancing to increase the happy atmosphere. After boating, pilgrims continue to follow their prayer route.

tags: China trip