The first day of the Ik Yöräl (Monlam Chenmo) prayer assembly was held in Kalmykia today

Today the first day  of the Ik Yöräl (Monlam Chenmo) prayer assembly  was held in the main Buddhist temple of Kalmykia. This tradition of holding a great prayer service during the days of the White Month was established more than 600 years ago by Lama Je Tsongkhapa (Zuңkva Gegän).

Ik Yöräl was held in 2 sessions. From the very morning believers hurried to take part. Together with the monks, everyone offered up their prayers to the Burkhans, asking for the well-being of all living beings. As the clergy note, the first 15 days of the first lunar month are very important; it was precisely during this period that our Great Teacher Buddha Shakyamuni performed his miraculous deeds,  finally defeating the teachers who preached erroneous doctrine, and thereby strengthening in his disciples their faith in the “Three Jewels.”

Tomorrow, February 23, on Friday from 9:00 a.m., Ik Yöräl will continue. And at 14:00 a memorial prayer service will take place.