Butter Lamp Festival, also known as Tsongkhapa Day or Ganden Ngamchoe (which literally means "Ganden Offering of the Twenty-Fifth Day"), is held annually on the 25th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan calendar to commemorate the parinirvana (Buddhist enlightenment) of Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Today, the celebration of this festival has also become a tradition in which monks and devotees light numerous butter lamps on altars in temples and homes to pray for good fortune in future lives. In this article, you'll learn more about the Tibetan Butter Lamp Festival.
Ganden Ngamchoe is one of the most celebrated festival in TibetSignificance of Tibetan Butter Lamp Festival
Born in 1357 as the son of a Tibetan Longben Tribal leader, Tsongkhapa is one of the most well-known monks for his profound teachings, spiritual insight, and revival of the purest form of Buddhist practices. He is also regarded as a second Buddha in the Gelug tradition. Since Tsongkhapa passed away in 1419 on the 25th day of the 10th month, every year on this day, temples and monasteries hold memorial ceremony for him, which has continued for 600 years, without interruption.
Apart from the foundation of Ganden Monastery by Tsongkhapa himself, two of his principal disciples, Tashi Palden and Jamchen Choje Sakya Yeshe respectively founded Drepung Monastery (1416), and Sera Monastery (1419), which are two of the most famous monasteries in Lhasa today. Because the Gelug sect later became the religious leader in Tibet and has the widest influence across the plateau, all Tibetan people including other sects of Tibetan Buddhism celebrate the Butter Lamp Festival for memorizing this great figure in Tibetan history.
Rituals and Celebrations of Tibetan Butter Lamp Festival
On the day of the Butter Lamp Festival, you can participate in the celebration at any Gelugpa temple or monastery across Tibet. However, Jokhang Temple and Ganden Monastery in Lhasa will be the grandest sites for you to experience.
Thousands of believers in Lhasa will do the Kora (pilgrimage circuit walk) in a clockwise direction around Jokhang Temple (which is considered as the most sacred temple in Tibet), some of them even prostrate themselves to complete the circumambulation to earn religious merit. Accompanied by the sound of sutra bugle and scripture chanting spreading throughout Lhasa at 20:00, the entire Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, and the nearby old city area are brightly lit. The radiance from Barkhor Street and Jokhang Temple Square almost illuminated the entire night sky of Lhasa.
Thousands of butter lamps lit up at Jokhang Temple on Thongkhapa Day
On the other hand, Ganden, located on the Gokpo Ri Mountain about 65 kilometers east of Lhasa, is the first monastery of the Gelug sect. During the day, people rush to Ganden Monastery and gather in front of Master Tsongkhapa's Hall, which is considered the closest place to the great soul of Master Tsongkhapa, waiting for the moment when night falls. Until then, every hall, pagoda and altar is surrounded by candlelight during the Butter Lamp Festival. Many devotees offer butter lamps and khata to the great mentor Tsongkhapa, expressing their deep longing and thirst for Buddhist wisdom.
Ganden is the first Gelugpa monastery in Tibet
Besides the light offerings and rituals at the temples and monasteries, butter lamps are also placed on the windowsills of every Tibetan Buddhist’s household. In addition to the lighting of lamps, the other activities include traditional music and dance performances, Weisang (burning branches of pine trees or cypress to make smog to worship gods and pray for good fortune), and the display of intricate butter sculptures known as "tormas."
Furthermore, there’s one special Tibetan food for Butter Lamp Festival - Tsampa porridge, which is made from roasted barley flour, tea, and a small amount of salt. There is an interesting story associated with the tradition of eating Tsampa porridge on this day - it is said that a young monk once became hungry while chanting sutras on the roof of a temple during the festival, and he read the scripture as saying "butter lamps lighting on the top, Tsampa porridge boiling in the pot". This story is believed to be the origin of the custom during the Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival.
Tsampa porridge is traditionally made and eaten on Thongkhapa Day
Butter Lamp Festival 2024 and Some Travel Tips
The Tibetan Butter Lamp Festival falls on December 25th of 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. Lhasa is famous as the "Sunny City" all year around, so, It’s also great to visit in winter season. Meanwhile, you can find some practical tips for participating in the Butter Lamp Festival in Lhasa below.
Plan ahead: The Butter Lamp Festival is a traditional event in Tibet, attracting a large number of tourists and pilgrims. It is recommended to understand the activity schedule of each temple/monastery during the festival in advance, and arrange the itinerary reasonably to ensure that important celebrations are not missed. Of course, you can also contact us to plan this trip for you.
Barkhor Street filled with crowds in the evening during Butter Lamp Festival
Altitude Sickness Concern: As one of the highest cities in the world, Lhasa has an altitude at 3650 meters, and tourists are prone to altitude sickness. It is recommended to rest first upon arrival and gradually adapt to the plateau environment. Drink more water and no alcohol.
Clothing & Keep Warm: The weather in Lhasa is fine in winter (-10 to 10℃), but with a large temperature difference between day and night. So, it is recommended to bring sufficient warm clothing, including down coats, layered outdoor jackets, hats, gloves, etc.
Sunblock Measures: Although it is winter, the sunlight and the ultraviolet radiation is still strong in Tibet. It is necessary to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and other sunscreen products to avoid sunburn.
Respect customs: Respect local religious rituals and traditions. To avoid affecting the normal conduct of religious ceremonies, dress properly and maintain silence when you are in a temple or monastery.
Conclusion
The Butter Lamp Festival is indeed a religious festival commemorating one of the greatest spiritual leaders Tsongkhapa in Tibetan history, and is one of the most attractive folk festivals that tourists can attend. If you happen to be planning a
Tibet tour in winter, this grand event would definitely be a good opportunity to learn about the Tibetan culture, and we believe you’ll have an unforgettable experience on “Tsongkhapa Day”.
