At midsummer the people and nobility dress tents, and for several days amuse themselves under them, picnicking, dancing, and singing.
In the 8th moon the jon-gyu festival takes place, lasting for seven or fourteen or even twenty-one days. On this occasion the lamas and people amuse themselves with sports, games, dancing, and feasting. This festival is observed in all northern Buddhist countries.[1]
Again, in the latter part of the 12th moon, there is a lama dance in every monastery, after which the evil spirits are exorcised.[2] Sometimes the 4th of the 6th and the 22nd of the 9th moons are observed as feast days; the latter as the anniversary of the Buddha’s descent from the Tushita heaven.[3]
In the summer, commencing with the full moon in July and lasting for a period of forty-five days, all lamas make a retreat in their monasteries, during which time they are not allowed to go without the lamasery walls, or take part in any amusement. This is known as the yar-nas.[4]
The birthdays of the Dalai and Tashi lamas are also kept as holidays, and on their reaching the age of three, twenty-five, forty-nine, sixty-one, seventy-three, or eighty-five, there are also great festivities.
When eclipses of the sun or moon occur, the Tibetans hold religious ceremonies similar to those of the Hindus.
Of all feasts, that of the New Year is probably the most popular. At Lhasa the State makes arrangements for the celebrations, beginning them about a month beforehand.
- ↑ Chinese authors say that, "during the 7th and 8th moons they (the Tibetans) put up tents along the river banks, and men and women bathe together in the river, it being symbolical of the purification ceremonies of the 13th of the 3rd month (in China)," Jour. Roy. Asiat. Soc., No. xxiii., p. 213.—(W. R.)
- ↑ On the 29th day of the moon.—(W. R.)
- ↑ Our author mentions also the following festivals:—
15th of 1st moon: Buddha’s birthday. 15th of 3rd ,, First preaching of the Kalachakra tantra. 8th of 4th ,, Buddha became a mendicant. 15th of 4th ,, Buddha’s nirvana. 5th of 5th ,, Feast of god of medicine. 4th of 6th ,, Buddha’s first sermon. 10th of 7th ,, Birth of Padma chyung-nas (Padma Sambhava). 15th of 7th ,, The snowy mountains are worshipped. 25th of 10th ,, Birth of Tsongkhapa. Cf. Waddell, op. cit., 502 et sqq.
- ↑ Known in southern Buddhist countries as varsha or Barsat. Yar is dbyar (usually pronounced chyar), "summer;" and nas (gnas), "abode." I do not believe the practice is generally observed. Cf. Waddell, op. cit., 224, and supra.—(W. R.)
