Program for Celebrating the Day of the Birth, Enlightenment, and Passing into Mahaparinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni

The most important Buddhist holiday of the year. The faithful of Kalmykia will celebrate the Day of the Birth, Enlightenment, and Passing into Mahaparinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni with a grand festive observance. It falls on June 4.

🙏From early morning (from 4:00 a.m.), all who wish may take the one-day Mahayana vows. There are eight of them: refraining from killing, stealing, lying, and adultery; refraining from alcohol, tobacco, and intoxicating substances; refraining from sitting on a “high” throne; refraining from singing songs, playing musical instruments, and dancing; refraining from adornments, the use of cosmetics and perfume; as well as refraining from eating food in the afternoon. These rules of moral discipline are taken on for 24 hours.

🙏At 9:00 a.m., a solemn prayer service will begin in the prayer hall of “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni.” The monks of the Central Khurul will offer their prayers to the Great Teacher.

🙏On this day, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., an exhibition of sacred relics will be open in the prayer hall for contemplation and veneration: the Sharira of Buddha Shakyamuni and a sprout of the Bodhi tree.

🙏At 1:00 p.m. on this day, in the khurul’s conference hall, the Shajin Lama of Kalmykia, Geshe Tenzin Choydak, will give a lecture on Buddhism.

🙏And at 5:00 p.m. the monks will perform the ritual of washing and consecrating the large thangka of Buddha Shakyamuni, which is hung on this day on the facade of the khurul (on the northern side).

OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNIYE SVAHA