Tibetans Celebrate White Lhamo Festival in Jokhang Temple

Lhasa women and Tibetan Buddhism pilgrims got together in Jokhang Temple and celebrated the traditional Tibetan "White Lhamo Festival" (仙女节) on November 21, 2010, which stands for October 15 in Tibetan calendar.

• The picture showing Tibetan people presenting Hadas to White Lhamo is from Tibet.cn.

In the Tibetan legend, White Lhamo is the daughter of Palden Lhamo (the dark blue protector and only female among the Eight Guardians of the Law). White Lhamo fell in love with the Buddhist Guardian of Jokhang Temple and decided to marry him prior to get his father's consent.

Annoyed by her daughter's behavior, Palden Lhamo drove the Buddhist Guardian of Jokhamg Temple to the south of Lhasa River and only allowed White Lhamo to have a look at her lover on the other side of the river on October 15.

• Tibetan women are drinking highland barley wine to celebrate the White Lhamo Festival.

In order to show their pity to White Lhamo Goddness, Tibetan women always worship White Lhamo on October 15 in Tibetan calendar in Jokhang Temple and pray for their own love as well. And gradually, the White Lhamo Festival became a festival of Tibetan women in Lhasa. On this day, they get up early and go to the Barkhor Street to burn aromatic plants and then to worship the White Lhamo goddess in Jokhang Temple.

• Tibetan people are burning aromatic plants on Barkhor Street to celebrate White Lhamo Festival.

On this day, Tibetan women have a special right to ask males for gifts or red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolizing fortune and wealth) and males must meet the demands to show respect to the tradition.

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