Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s1.t5: bCu bavi lNga mChod Festival
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s1.t5
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bCu bavi lNga mChod Festival
v2.c12.s1.t5.1
Butter lamp festival, ie bcu bavi lnga mchod, is important for Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism because it commemorates nirvana of the grandmaster Tsongkhapa.
v2.c12.s1.t5.2
On the 25th day of 10th month of Earth Pig year (1419) of seventh calendrical cycle in Tibetan calendar, Tsongkhapa (founder of Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism) entered nirvana at his Ganden Monastery. Then, various Gelug monasteries held condolence ceremonies for him. The day of his nirvana has been designated as a grand festival in commemoration since then. Various Gelug monasteries hold the festival on the above day, every year according to the Tibetan calendar. Especially, the festival in Lhasa, the holy city, is the grandest of all. Local ecclesiastic and secular followers actively participated in preparing for the festival. When it comes to the festival, all temples and families light up butter-oil lamps. With numerous sparkling lamps, it is as bright as daytime. Lamps are arranged like stars and holds everyone in awe.
v2.c12.s1.t5.3
Festival of lighting lamps
v2.c12.s1.t5.4
Scripture hall of the Labrang monastery
v2.c12.s1.t5.5
Other monasteries of the sect have much in common with that in Lhasa, except slight differences in details of formalities and duration. As recorded in *Culture of Kumbum Monastery* (ie sku vbum dgon), the monastery's main hall and lama residence roof-walls are all dotted with Buddha butter-oil lamps. Seen from afar, the lit-up lamps look like a sparkling nightscape of a metropolis. It is indeed splendid and spectacular. Tens of thousands of lamps are a symbol for Buddha's light illuminating all things everywhere. Since this lighting takes place for five nights, it is also called "Lnga mchod chen mo" or Butter-oil Lamp Festival. During the festival, monasteries offer Buddhists with tea and vegetarian rice porridge as a rule.
v2.c12.s1.t5.6
Butter Lamp Festival held at Labrang Monastery (bla brang bkra shes vkhyil) once a year has its own religious connotation and cultural originality. It begins on the 24th day of 10th month and lasts three days to pay homage to Tsongkhapa (25th day) and his disciples Jamyang Choje (24th day) and Jamchen Choje (26th day). New sacrifices will be offered at daytime of 25th day and followers worship the Buddha, and hold sacrificial ceremonies and prayers. At night, the hall and palace roofs are lit up with butter-oil lamps. It looks as if many stars fell to the mortal world so that people could worship and pay homage.
v2.c12.s1.t5.7
(*Kalsang gyal*)