Three firsts in Lhokha/Shannan Prefecture of Tibet

July,26 2016 BY Master Catherine Jigme 0 COMMENTS

During the Tibetan New Year and Chinese New Year, many tourists and Tibetans go to visit the three firsts in Lhokha/Shannan Prefecture of Tibet, Samye Monastery, Yumbu Lhakhang Palace, and Changzhub Monastery. Worshiping Buddhas in monasteries, burning mulberry leaves and hanging up sutra flags high on the mountains and riverbanks are the most prevalent customs of paying homage to the deities among Tibetan people.

samye monastery

The Samye Monastery is the first temple built in Tibet with Buddhas, religious writings, and monks in history. Even today, Tibetan Buddhism has many different sects with different annotation of practicing religious cultivation, the Buddhas revered from different sects are all worshiped in harmony, which is the most representative trait of the temple.

The Yumbu Lhakhang Palace is the first palace built in Tibet. The Tubo kings are now esteemed devine. People would add butter to the butter lamps and hang up sutra flags with their names written on the highest point of the mountain.

Changzhub Monastery is the first monastery of Buddha built in Tibet. The most attractive part of the monastery is the countless Buddha statues and a Thangka of Arya Avalokiteshvara made of over 20,000 pearls.

People would bow to the Buddha statues and stupas, and some even kneel down their whole body on the ground to express their strong wish and devout spirit.

About the Author - Master Catherine Jigme

With exceptional passion and outstanding leadership, Mrs. Catherine has dedicated herself to Tibet inbound tourism and China tour for 15 years. As one of the handful females who see great potential of Chinese inbound tourism, Catherine has made great contribution to promoting Tibet tourism and enhancing the employment of Tibetans and prosperity of local Tibetan community.

Over the years, she travelled overseas with Tibet Tourism Bureau many times to promote Tibet tourism. Currently, Catherine works as the marketing director of Tibet Vista, an opinion leader behind the whole team of Tibet Vista.

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