Buddha-Descending Day through lenses of foreign media

China Tibet Online

Buddha-Descending Day through the lenses of foreign media
November 3rd，or September 22nd of the Tibetan calendar, is a traditional religious festival on which Tibetans welcome the descent of the spirit.From autumn to winter, the Tibetan people have this time off to make pilgrimage to Lhasa to worship. The winter season happens to be the most exciting period of worshipping the Buddha. Buddha-Descending Day happens to space out the beginning of Buddha worship in the winter season.[Photo by Lloyd Young]

Buddha-Descending Day through the lenses of foreign media
Buddha-Descending Day in the Tibetan language is known as "Lha Bab Duchen." According to Tibet Buddhism, Sakyamuni returned to earth on this day, thus coined the phrase "Heaven’s descent" or Buddha-Descending Day. To celebrate the day, Tibetan monastery would carry out religious events to receive the spirit of the Buddha, who promotes Buddhist thought and stops all living creatures from suffering.Religious masses worship the Buddha with devoutly, turn the prayer wheels and worship the Buddha in the monasteries for bless.[Photo by Lloyd Young]


Believers arrive at the Johkang Monastery, Ramoche Monastery and Potala Palace to light incense, pray for good weather and good fortune.[Photo by Lloyd Young]

外媒镜头下的冬日朝佛季“神降节”
Another saying is, the festival is to celebrate the day when Sakyamuni repaid his mother’s grace by going to heaven, learned scripture and returned to earth when he was seven years.[Photo by Lloyd Young]

Up to tens of thousands of local spiritual believers line up in front of Jokhang Monastery, waiting to worship the statue of Sakyamuni, pray for all living creatures. They fuel the lanterns, and pray for the Buddha's bliss over the well-being of all the people.
Prior to the holiday, the outer wall of the Potala Palace was already white-washed, Below white Palace of the Potala Palace, with the help of workers, believers help pour bottle after bottle of milk into the paint mixture for the painting the walls.[Photo by Lloyd Young]

Up to tens of thousands of local spiritual believers line up in front of Jokhang Monastery, waiting to worship the statue of Sakyamuni, pray for all living creatures. They fuel the lanterns, and pray for the Buddha's bliss over the well-being of all the people.
Buddha-Descending Day has a very intimate relationship with Sakyamuni. Believers will convene for religious assembly, for example the Saka Dawa in April, and Pilgrimage to the mountain on June 4 are considered of the four most important festivals.[Photo by Lloyd Young]

Up to tens of thousands of local spiritual believers line up in front of Jokhang Monastery, waiting to worship the statue of Sakyamuni, pray for all living creatures. They fuel the lanterns, and pray for the Buddha's bliss over the well-being of all the people.
Painting the walls of the Potala Palace happens on the 9th month every year and must be completed by the 22nd of the 9th month of the Tibetan calendar. It is said that the spirits will enter the human world and whoever’s house has a clean white coat of paint, the spirit will remain in their residence.[Photo by Lloyd Young]

Up to tens of thousands of local spiritual believers line up in front of Jokhang Monastery, waiting to worship the statue of Sakyamuni, pray for all living creatures. They fuel the lanterns, and pray for the Buddha's bliss over the well-being of all the people.
The monk of Sera Monastery says that every year of the 9th month, rain and snow will come and go, but at the same time people are not deterred if the weather washes their paint away, they try their best to please the Gods. You could say it shows how much they revere the esteemed Buddha.[Photo by Lloyd Young]

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