Lhabab Duchen

Lhabab Duchen, or Buddha's Descent Day, is one of the four major Sakyamuni festivals in Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism believes that September 22nd of the Tibetan calendar is the day when the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni, returned to the world. In 2026, Lhabab Duchen will fall on November 3. The other 3 major Sakyamuni festivals are the Great Prayer Festival in the 1st Tibetan month, the Saga Dawa Festival in April, and the Chokor Duchen Festival in early June. On this day, Tibetan Buddhists hold various religious activities in temples, greet Buddha's return, promote the Dharma, and pray for the well-being of all living beings.

Origin

According to the Tibetan Buddhism doctrine, "Lhabab Duchen" is the day when Buddha Sakyamuni returns to earth. Another saying is that when Sakyamuni was 7 years old, he rose to thirty-three levels of the heavens and repaid his mother's grace (Madam Maya) by preaching. After that, Sakyamuni returned to the ancient Indian Kingdom of Kashi on this day. And this day is called "descent from heaven" or "Buddha returns" day.

Preparations

White is the color admired by Tibetans and a symbol of happiness and beauty. In Tibet, the snowy mountains are white, the clouds are white, the wool is white, the zanba is white, and the Hada is also white. Whitewashing houses in cities and villages means that the plateau is a pure land of Buddhism and that the people here are kind, sincere, and pure. If Buddha sees it from heaven, he will make a resolution to come back.

Traditionally, in preparation for Lhabab Duchen, Tibetan temples of all sizes have their outer walls painted. During this period, believers will spontaneously donate milk, brown sugar, etc., as painting materials. Tibetan religious believers also clean up the dust of their own prayer rooms, burn incense, and worship Buddha, looking forward to the arrival of the Buddha.

Prayer Activities

One of the most important prayer activities on Lhabab Duchen is burning incense. As long as there is a place to burn incense, pilgrims put cypress branches into the stove, sprinkle barley grains, zanba, pour ghee, and so on to dispel evil spirits.

On this day, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries hold a variety of activities, chanting, and worshiping, to commemorate Buddha's descent. In Lhasa, monks hold solemn meetings to make chopa to Buddha statues at the Jokhang Temple, Ramoche Temple, and the Potala Palace, and offer alms-giving at the Drepung, Sera, and Ganden monasteries, praying for the Buddha's return.

Believers also offer sacrifices or assistance to the poor according to their financial resources. Since early morning, thousands of worshippers line up at the gate of the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, waiting to worship the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha and add ghee to the lamps, praying for blessings of happiness and safety for their families. After worshiping the Buddha, believers begin to turn prayer wheels and pray along the traditional Linkhor road route, passing Chokpori, Norbulingka, Potala Palace, and other sacred sites.