Monlam Prayer Meeting Festival

Brief Introduction

Monlam prayer meeting festival is one of the important Tibet Festival of the Gelug Temple. Monlam means prayer and yearning, which means the longing for happiness, peace and health.

The Origin

In the end of the 14th century, Tsongkhapa put forward the proposal of rectifying and reforming the Tibet Buddhism, and implemented Buddhism philosophy he had penetrated to the actions. He was serious in the religious discipline, management of the temple, as well as rebuilt the temple, so as to recruit the Tibet Buddhism. At that time, Tsongkhapa has been famous around China. In 1407, he went back to Lhasa, after the consultation with the leader Pazudiyibazhajiancan, he decided to have the Monlam prayer meeting festival in Lhasa in 1409. In the January of 1409, Tsongkhapa held the Molam prayer meeting festival in the Jokhang Temple, with thousands of people taking part in it, which was especially popular among the monks. From then on, there has been Monalm prayer meeting festival in the Gelug temple in January.

The Celebration Process

In Tibet, Molam prayer meeting festival is held from January 3 to January 25 wach year. From January 4, the Lama of Tibet Buddhism temple, like the Gandan Monastery, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery, would gather at the Lhasa civic zone. According to the 5th Dalai, during the Molam prayer meeting festival, the political power of Lhasa should deliver to the disciplinarian of Drepung Monastery by the Lhasa government, the disciplinarian ordered the ritual-enacting monks to keep the local peace. In the Jokhang Temple, where the Molam prayer meeting festival is held, From January 3, there are chanting sutra assemblies six times each day. In the morning, there are the Xiaozuo and Suojiang. In the noon, the site is changed to the crimp square on the right of Jokhang temple and there is the Ganmuzuo, Gongze, Molam and Gongjia. Before the Dalai Lama takes over the reins of government upon coming of age, he can't take part in the Molam prayer meeting festival. In the night of January 15, there would be butter lantern festival in Jokhang Temple and on the Barkhor Street. The local Lama, nobles, regent and monks would take part in it. On January 23, in order to avoid the disasters might happen, the monks would carry the emperor setem to the suburb for incineration, and the troop would fire a shoot buy the side for encouragement. On January 24, on the streets of Lhasa, there are competitions of wrestle and weight lifting. In the suburb, there are also competitions, like the riding horse and archery. On January 25, the monks would get back to the monastery, and the Dalai Lama would also get back to the Potala Palace.