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A little Tibetan pilgrim’s Tibetan New Year Pilgrimage

Before Tibetan New Year 2013, many Tibetan people living out of Lhasa would do New Year’s pilgrimage to Lhasa with family members. Thus, it is easy to see very old or young pilgrims in Lhasa at this moment. The following is the story about a little pilgrim’s Tibetan New Year Pilgrimage.   

Tibetan pilgrims, Tibetan family

 
"Get up, Tashi. It's time to worship Buddha!"
 
With mom's soft voice, the 11-year-old Tashi gets up from the warm bed and dresses up. His mother already has one foot step outside the door. Without having breakfast, Tashi runs after his mother in a rush.
 
Tashi's family comes from Amdo County in Tibet's Nagqu Prefecture. When the vacation comes, Drolma will take little Tashi to Lhasa to worship Buddha.
 
Every day, they start from the Potala Palace, and move around the old downtown Lhasa in a clockwise direction. In one day, they can pay three times circumambulation. Whenever they pass a temple, they will light the butter lamp and pray for auspiciousness.
 
Judging from the sapphire blue sky and dotted glittering stars, Tashi knows it must be around six o'clock in the morning. Over the past half a month, they always leave home at that time.
 
"We must be punctual. Mom says Buddha is looking at us in heaven." Tashi said timidly.
 
No more than a quarter, Tashi and his family have arrived at the back of the Potala Palace. Not far from them, a 68-year-old Amala (a Tibetan salutation to an old lady), Nima is waiting for them with her 6-year-old grandson, Tseten. The two families are companions on the circumambulation path.
 
Around 7 a.m., people holding prayer wheels and chanting sutra become a mass. Some walk alone devoutly using their feet to calculate the distance to reach Buddha. Some bring and take care of the young and the old, paying worships.
 
After a moment, the two families get to the Kunde Ling Monastery. Tashi and Tseten each puts palms together above head, kneels down, and lies prone in front of a colorful painting of a hundred Buddhas.
 
After that, Tashi laughs, pointing at a copper butter lamp, and says, "Look, inside that lamp lives a Buddha."
 
Tashi does not speak very often on the circumambulation path. His mother will tell him the Buddhist legends and some Tibetan customs, such as the story of Avalokitesvara and the meaning of hanging sutra streamers on the tree.
 
Coming out of the chapel, Drolma takes out a newly-bought butter carefully, and puts aside of the butter lamp room.
 
"The monks will put the butter into the lamps. I light up the lamp for my grandma." Tashi lowers his head and says calmly. He still remembers his granny on her deathbed, lying peacefully as if sleeping.
 
Paying homage on a circumambulation path is a little bit boring for kids like Tashi. With the companion of little Tseten, Tashi feels happier. Holding some candy and sweet, they go after each other and play around; sometimes, they also stay with the adults and listen to the stories of Buddha; sometimes they would stare at the icy surface of Lhasa River, as if doing meditation.
 
Soon, the sky turns grey like the color of a fish's belly. Drolma stops under a tree full of sutra streamers and worships while chanting scriptures.
 
"I pray to get a good result for my school study." Tashi smiles with a couple of his white teeth exposed. There are 60 students in his class and he ranks fifth. He wishes that his English study could be as good as his math.
 
When the sky turns bright, the morning sun shines under the white cloud. Tashi and little Tseten look at the far distance with eyes squinted. Wish that the golden sunlight could tumble a gold lining in their dreams. (from China Tibet online)
 
Master Catherine Jigme

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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