Gaden Nyamchoe
Lama Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), the revered founder of Tibet’s Gelug school of Buddhism, passed into parinirvana on the 25th day of the tenth Tibetan lunar month. This sacred day is widely celebrated across Tibet as Ganden Ngamchoe, better known as the enchanting Butter Lamp Festival.
As dusk falls, the whole of Tibet is bathed in a soft, golden glow. Monasteries and local homes light countless butter lamps on rooftops, windowsills and shrine halls, twinkling like stars fallen to earth. Devout lamas gather to chant sacred sutras, play solemn religious horns, and hold traditional rituals to honor the great Lama Tsongkhapa.
Local pilgrims and visitors join in gentle prostrations, turning prayer wheels and circumambulating sacred temples. Soft sandalwood smoke fills the air, carrying sincere prayers for peace, wisdom and good fortune.
In the evening, devotees walk around Jokhang Temple with butter lamps in hand, quietly reciting mantras of Je Tsongkhapa. This touching scene lets everyone fully immerse themselves in the pure, devout faith of Tibetans, and feel the deep bond between local culture and spiritual belief.
