In Tibet, religious festivals are celebrated like national holidays. Tibetan people celebrate many religious festivals throughout the year, but the grandest and most important Tibetan religious festival is Saga Dawa which is going to fall on May 25th, 2013.
Saga Dawa means ‘fourth month’, and it is on the 15th day of this month on the Tibetan calendar that Tibetan Buddhists celebrate both Buddha’s birth and the day when Buddha died and attained Nirvana.
During Saga Dawa Festival, people flock to villages and monasteries turning their prayer wheels and singing and dancing. It is also a festival of light, where butter lamps abound. Although picnics are common, as a day of strict Buddhist observance no meat is allowed.
It is said that the month of Saga Dawa is so sacred that any merit obtained for the performance of a good deed or religious practices such as reciting of mantras is doubled. Participants perform prostrations around Buddhist monuments and some fast or remain silent for a week. Sutras are read at the monastery and the monks engage in the masked Cham dances—rituals that are performed for emotional and spiritual purification.
Placing prayer flags is also an essential activity during the Saga Dawa Festival. If you travel to Tibet, you can see rows of banners or tarchos at the entrances to Tibetan villages. They are prayer flags fluttering in the wind and sending prayers skyward. In the Tibetan tradition these prayers are considered to be offered for the good of all sentient beings.
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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