Great Prayer Festival (Monlam) 2025 in Tibet

The Great Prayer Festival has a long history dating back to 1409. The celebration is held during the first 10 days of the Tibetan New Year. Thousands of monks will gather at the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa to worship Sakyamuni, perform religious rituals, chant prayers, and debate Buddhist scriptures.

The Tibetan word Monlam literally translates as "wish path." Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, established Monlam, or the Great Prayer Festival, to promote unity and deepen Buddhist teachings within the community. This festival traces its roots back to 1409, coinciding with the establishment of the Ganden Monastery.

Tsongkhapa initiated the festival at the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa to honor the "Fifteen Days of Miracles," during which Buddha Shakyamuni is believed to have performed remarkable feats to inspire faith and convert non-Buddhist practitioners to Buddhism. Monlam became a cornerstone of Tibetan Buddhist culture, fostering devotion, study, and communal celebration. The festival remains a symbol of spiritual renewal and a vital cultural heritage within Tibetan Buddhism.

Monlam Highlights

Thousands of pilgrims bring donations to lamas. At the Great Prayer Festival, monks usually perform their traditional Cham dance. This huge ritual offers cakes with unique butter statues, called tormas, which are made especially for the festival. This festival ends with the Butter Lamp Festival.

Giant Thangka of Buddha Unveiling

The unveiling of a giant Thangka (a sacred Buddhist painting) is a centuries-old tradition. Devotees can make offerings and pray in front of the Buddha's image, which is displayed in a prominent place. Usually, a huge embroidered Thangka is solemnly unfurled on a hillside for public viewing and worship.

Dance Performance

An integral part of the festival is the performance of the Cham dance. Masks, colorful costumes, and symbolic gestures performed by monks depicting stories from Buddhist mythology are part of this performance. The dances are also accompanied by sacred music played by a group of monks on traditional Tibetan musical instruments. This demonstrative dance is considered an offering to the gods that benefits people.