Our Festivals

The celebration of festivals helps to preserve ritual traditions, spreads the dharma (Buddhist teachings), and gives monks and lay people the opportunity to accumulate good karma for the next life through offerings, worship, and prayer.

The Calendar

Smonlam 
February 26- March 1, 2015

Special Worship (puja) for world peace and wellbeing of all people 

Chudsum Chodpa 
March 2-3, 2015

Worship of Thirteen Special Deities 

Chonga Chodpa 
March 4-5, 2015

Important harvest ceremony for which the monks create a special torma or offering statue made of barley flour and butter, which is visited and honored by villagers

Gyalwe Jabstan 
March 7-8, 2015

Special puja for the Long Life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Initiation of Vajrabhaivara 
May 27 to June 2, 2015

Worship of Vajrabhaivara, the most wrathful form of Manjusri

Syungnas 
July 18-21, 2015

Fasting Ceremony to purge sin and accumulate good karma

Yarnas or Varshavas Ceremony 
July 31 to September 13, 2015

Monks remain confined within the monastery and limited outlying area, performing special daily pujas, in order to avoid negative karma from treading upon plants and insects.

PLEASE NOTE: Visitors must obtain special permission from the head lama of the monastery to attend a short portion of Yarnas

Gadam Nagchod or Lighting Ceremony 
December 5-7, 2015

Celebration of the death anniversary of Tsongkhapa, the great Buddhist philosopher and founder of the Gelug sect.

Jigched Lhachusum
Ceremony
March 26 - June 2, 2015

More info to come.

Phukta Gutor 
February 16-18, 2015

Most important festival celebrated at Phuktal Monastery for world peace and harmony – attended by many Zanskaris and residents of greater Ladakh