The Ganden festival is celebrated every year on the 15th day of the sixth Tibetan month and holds great significance for the Buddhists. It is on this day that 25 precious articles belonging to the Ganden monastery are put out for public viewing in the main shrine hall. Normally all these articles are kept locked in the treasure house of the monastery. As a result, the Ganden Festival sees a great rush with people flocking the monastery to catch a glimpse of the revered objects and pay their obeisance.
The Ganden Festival also sees a grand offering ceremony that goes on side by side with the display at the shrine hall. As for the revered articles on display, they consist of the images of the sixteen arhats, akshobhya, the secret assembly, the four great kings, the upasaka and the hashang image. One of the most important festivals in the Tibetan calendar, the Ganden Festival is truly an event worth witnessing. The faith and reverence that drive the people as they trek to the monastery to get a glimpse of the relics is simply amazing.
The Ganden festival is a grand celebration of Buddha and the ideals he stood for. Being a part of this festival can be a truly overwhelming experience. So whenever you get a chance to visit Tibet around this time, do make it a point to visit the Ganden monastery and be a part of a celebration that encompasses everyone into its fold and proves to be a memorable experience.
