May 26 is the Birthday of Buddha Shakyamuni

In the republic this day has been declared a non-working day — the corresponding decree No. 85 was signed today by the Head of the region Batu Khasikov. According to legend, it was on this very day, the 15th lunar day of the month of the Sheep, that the Buddha performed three great deeds: he was born, attained Enlightenment, and passed into parinirvana. On this day a number of events are planned at the Central Khurul of the republic. As the senior administrator of the khurul Yonten Gelung reported, on May 26 at 4:30 in the morning believers will be able to take the one-day Mahayana vows — 8 vows that must be kept until the dawn of the following day. At 9:00 a festive prayer service will take place in the main prayer hall, led by Shajin Lama of Kalmykia Telo Tulku Rinpoche. Due to restrictions in connection with the #COVID-19 pandemic, access to the prayer hall will be limited — no more than one hundred people. All services will be broadcast online on the Instagram account @khurul_official and the khurul’s Youtube channel. Before the prayer service, the relics kept in the khurul will be open for believers to contemplate and receive blessings — the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni, as well as a sprout of the sacred Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment. The exhibition will be open all day so that believers can venerate the sacred relics and receive a blessing. Due to restrictions, access to the exhibition will also be limited — no more than 100 people at a time. On the northern side of the khurul a huge thangka of Buddha Shakyamuni will be hung — the monks will perform a ritual of washing and consecrating the thangka.