Celebrating The Buddha – Saga Dawa Festival At Mt. Kailash

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I’m about to start a trek in Tibet that will take me around one of the holiest sites on the planet for Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, and Bons, Mt. Kailash. I’ve also shown up at a very auspicious time. It’s The Saga Dawa Festival, celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha. We’re also in a hurry to make it on time for the raising of The Tarboche Pole.

The Tarboche Pole is a very important part of the festival. Every year pilgrims bring new prayer flags to replace the old ones on the pole. It’s lowered, flags are changed then the pole is raised with direction from the Lama of the local monastery. It is very important when the pole is raised that it stand straight. This means a prosperous year for Tibet.

The pilgrims come from all over Tibet, Nepal, and India. Some of them by car or bus, some simply walk. A few come by way of prostration. This is the act of putting both hands together, touching your head, throat and heart then touching your forehead to the ground while on your hands and knees. All for respect of the triple gem, The Buddha, his teachings and the spiritual community.

After a puja or blessings and prayers from the monks, many will continue on to do a kora, or circuit around Mt. Kailash. Most will walk which can take up to three days; but some will prostrate the whole way, which could take up to two weeks. This circuit completion is for good fortune and to wipe out the sins of a lifetime.

For breezy-size.flywheelsites.com this is John Saboe.