Tibetan People Celebrate Annual Buddha Return Day

Tibetan people celebrated their traditional annual festival "Buddha's Return Day" (神降节) on Oct. 29, 2010, that is Sept. 22 on the lunar calendar of the Tibetans. Tibetan Buddhism considers Sept. 22 on Tibetan calendar as the day on which Buddha Sakyamuni returns to the earth from heaven, thus it is called "Buddha's Return Day" or "Sakyamuni's Return Day".

As to commemorate the day, temples and monasteries in Tibet would hold Buddhist activities to celebrate the Buddha Sakyamuni's Return and Tibetan Buddhist followers would pray to Buddha for blessing and protection.

• (The picture showing Tibetans burning aromatic plants on Buddha Return Day is from Tibet.cn)

Burning aromatic plants is one of the most important activities on the day. The followers would put aromatic plants into the stove and cast barley flour, tsampa and ghee. It is said that the Tibetans would also refurbish the walls of the monasteries and their houses to embrace the festival and the Buddha’s return. Before the festival this year, the refurbishment of Potala Palace wall is finished.

• The worker is whitewashing the exterior wall of Potala Palace

Among various religious festivals in Tibet, there are 4 held every year to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni. They are Chotrul Duchen, Saga Dawa Festival, Ritual Walk Festival (Choekor Duechen) and Buddha Sakyamuni Return Day.

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