December 15, also October 15 in the Tibetan calendar, is the “Pal Lhamo Festival”, a traditional folk festival of Xizang, also called the “Fairy Festival”. On that day, believers are in their Sunday best, and go to the Jokhang Temple with offerings in their hands such as khada scarves, flowers, fruits, and highland barley wine. Facing the statues of Pal Lhamo and Trizongzan in the temple, they put their palms together to pray devoutly and make offerings, praying for a harvest and no disaster or illness in the next year.

According to legend, Pal Lhamo is the guardian deity of Lhasa and the daughter of Palden Lhamo, one of the highest Guardians of Buddhist Doctrine in Tibetan Buddhism. Pal Lhamo and Trizongzan, the Guardian of the Buddhist Doctrine of Jokhang Temple, loved each other and pledged to marry without the permission of their parents. After it was found by her mother, Trizongzan was driven to the south bank of the Lhasa River. The two can only meet each other across the river on October 15 in the Tibetan calendar. That day is the “Fairy Festival”.

The statue of Trizongzan.

Believers coming to worship.

The statue of Pal Lhamo, the “Frog-faced Goddess”.