Category Archives: His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Photo Essay: The Many Ways Tibetan Buddhist Nuns Celebrated the Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday

The Tibetan Buddhist nuns in India celebrated His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday with dozens of special events. Here is a photo essay of the celebrations at Dolma Ling and Shugsep nunneries in northern India with pictures by the nuns. Both nunneries were built and are fully supported thanks to Tibetan Nuns Project donors and sponsors.

Celebrations at Dolma Ling Nunnery

The celebrations at Dolma Ling ranged from solemn prayers and offerings for His Holiness’s long life to educational activities and joyous games. The Dolma Ling Media Nuns captured the magic of the weeks of festivities.

Overnight Tara Prayer Offering

On Tsewa 15, during the sacred month of Saga Dawa, the nuns held an overnight chanting of the Tara mantra, known in Tibetan as Dolma Tsentsok. The date was a Wednesday, the day that the nuns traditionally do the Tara puja because it is considered an auspicious day for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Collage at Dolma Ling Nunnery of prayers and celebrations for Dalai Lama's 90th birthday.

The nuns did an overnight chanting of the Tara mantra as part of the birthday celebrations.

The nuns dedicated long-life prayers for His Holiness. The Tibetan for Tara is “Dolma”, and thus “Dolma Ling” means “Place of Tara”. Tara is believed to be a Bodhisattva of compassion and a protector who relieves physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering. She is known as the “mother of liberation”.

Sangsol or incense offering ceremony is an ancient Tibetan tradition for special occasions such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday and at Losar, Tibetan New Year.

As part of the birthday celebrations, the nuns also held a special incense offering ceremony called sangsol. It is traditional for Tibetans to burn incense and fragrant juniper bows as an offering on occasions such as the Dalai Lama’s birthday, marriages, and at Tibetan New Year.

Environmental Clean-Up Campaign

As part of the many celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, on June 28th, the Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Dolma Ling Nunnery did an environmental cleanup of the areas in and around the nunnery, including Norbulingka and the Khanyara River.

Nuns celebrate Dalai Lama's birthday with environmental clean-up

Nuns celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday with an environmental clean-up on June 28th..

The nuns were honoring His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s deep commitment to the environment. They hope that their efforts promote care for nature and public awareness about environmental responsibility.

art-of-the-celebrations-of-the-Dalai-Lamas-birthday-included-an-environmental-cleanup

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said, “This planet is our only home; we are all responsible for taking care of it.” The nuns honored His Holiness’s commitment to the environment with their clean-up efforts.

Tibetan Studies Debate

Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute hosted a debate on Tibetan studies, showcasing the nuns’ academic engagement and commitment to preserving the Tibetan language and culture. The annual discussion on Tibetan Studies took place on June 4th, 2025, and the nuns discussed and debated the topics of Pharchin, Zoe, Tarik, and the Tibetan language.

The annual Tibetan Studies debate at Dolma Ling was dedicated this year to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday and was held on June 4th, 2025. Upper right is the new principal, Geshema Delek Wangmo.

Essay Competition

Both Dolma Ling and Shugsep nunneries held essay-writing competitions to mark the occasion. The nuns wrote in Tibetan. Traditionally, Tibetan nuns did not have access to the same level of education as monks. Now Tibetan nuns, such as those at Dolma Ling, have the opportunity to learn their own written language and various forms of Tibetan calligraphy.

The essay-writing competition at Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute.

Annual Flower Competition

Each year, the nuns at Dolma Ling hold a flower competition to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday on July 6th. It’s monsoon time in northern India, so this year’s judging took place in the rain. The nuns set up multiple altars in the nunnery courtyard with offerings and portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Flower competition at Dolma Ling for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday on July 6, 2025.

For Buddhists, it is traditional to offer flowers to the Buddha. Flowers are significant as offerings because their freshness, fragrance, and beauty are impermanent. They are a reminder of the Buddha’s teachings that all things are impermanent.

Fun and Games

His Holiness’s birthday is a day of great joy. In addition to solemn prayers for his good health and long life, the nuns held laughter-filled fun and games, including trying to feed each other cake with blindfolds on and playing badminton in the courtyard.

Some of the fun and games included a joyous game of feeding cake with blindfolds on and badminton games.

Celebrations at Shugsep Nunnery and Institute

As at Dolma Ling, the nuns at Shugsep Nunnery organized a series of meaningful activities and spiritual offerings to mark this very special occasion. Their activities were varied and included public service events and a three-tiered birthday cake decorated with the snow lions of Tibet. Here are some of the ways the nuns celebrated.

food offerings to the poor as part of celebrations of Dalai Lamas birthday

Food offerings to the poor were part of the many and varied public service acts performed by Tibetan Buddhist nuns as part of their celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday.

Essay-Writing and Art Competitions

The nuns held essay and drawing competitions to inspire creativity centered around themes connected to His Holiness’s life and messages. Their beautiful drawings and essays were displayed with balloons for all to see.

Drawings and essays from Shugsep Nunnery as part of the celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday.

Art from painting contest by Shugsep nuns as part of celebrations of Dalai Lama's 90th birthday

Some of the art from the painting contest by Shugsep nuns as part of celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday.

Community Service

The Shugsep nuns undertook a variety of community service events to mark the occasion. They cleaned and tidied the residence of Tibetan elders at the Jampa Ling Old Age Home in Dharamsala as a gesture of respect and service. They held a cleanup drive in their nearby Indian local communities to promote environmental care and community connection. The nuns also planted trees and flowers within the nunnery grounds to beautify the environment and contribute to sustainability and biodiversity.

The nunnery organized food offerings to support and uplift the poor and needy in nearby areas. They cut up fresh local fruit such as papayas and bananas and distributed the food in compostable and biodegradable bowls made of leaves.

food offerings by the Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Shugsep Nunnery as part of the celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday.

The Shugsep nuns offered fruit and drinks to the local community as part of their celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday.

Shugsep nuns distributing fresh fruit and drinks in their community.

Religious and Educational Events

On Namgang, the 30th day of the 4th Tibetan month, the nuns held a grand and elaborate incense offering (sangsol) ceremony at the sacred site of Lhagyal Ri. The nuns held weekly special prayers and offerings to the enlightened beings every Wednesday throughout the season. Wednesday, known as “Lhakar” (White Wednesday) in Tibetan, is considered a special day for the Dalai Lama because it’s believed to be his birth day and a day for expressing devotion to him.

The nuns also held a thoughtful group discussion on the Four Commitments of His Holiness —universal responsibility, inter-religious harmony, preservation of Tibetan culture, and revival of ancient Indian wisdom — to deepen the nuns’ understanding and reflection.

Grand Birthday Celebration

On July 6th, the Shugsep nuns held a joyous and grand celebration bringing together the nunnery community in gratitude and reverence. The nuns lavishly decorated their prayer hall with flowers and butter sculptures, offering, and had a three-tiered birthday cake decorated with the snow lions of Tibet. They held prayers and presented kataks, ceremonial white scarves, to the portrait of His Holiness.

celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday at Shugsep Nunnery

Inside the prayer hall at Shugsep with the beautifully decorated altar and offerings. The nuns lined up to offer khataks, ceremonial Tibetan prayer scarves, to the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The celebrations continue! The Central Tibetan Administration has declared the period from July 2025 to July 2026 the Year of Compassion, marking the global celebration of His Holiness’ 90th birthday. There will be events worldwide to show gratitude and admiration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his lifelong commitment to global harmony through teachings of love, compassion, and altruism.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Says He Will Be Reincarnated

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On July 2nd, His Holiness the Dalai Lama released an eagerly awaited statement about his succession. The news made global headlines. He reiterated that “the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, patron of the Tibetan Nuns Project, turns 90 on July 6th, 2025. We wish him a very happy birthday and pray for his good health and long life.

Here is the full statement.

photo of His Holiness the Dalai Lama reading a statement.

Photo from the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Statement Affirming the Continuation of the Institution of Dalai Lama

July 2, 2025
(Translated from the original Tibetan)

On 24 September 2011, at a meeting of the heads of Tibetan spiritual traditions, I made a statement to fellow Tibetans in and outside Tibet, followers of Tibetan Buddhism, and those who have a connection with Tibet and Tibetans, regarding whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue. I stated, “As far back as 1969, I made clear that concerned people should decide whether the Dalai Lama’s reincarnations should continue in the future.”

I also said, “When I am about ninety, I will consult the high Lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Tibetan public, and other concerned people who follow Tibetan Buddhism, to re-evaluate whether or not the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue.”

Although I have had no public discussions on this issue, over the last 14 years leaders of Tibet’s spiritual traditions, members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, participants in a Special General Body Meeting, members of the Central Tibetan Administration, NGOs, Buddhists from the Himalayan region, Mongolia, Buddhist republics of the Russian Federation and Buddhists in Asia including mainland China, have written to me with reasons, earnestly requesting that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue. In particular, I have received messages through various channels from Tibetans in Tibet making the same appeal. In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.

The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognized has been clearly established in the 24 September 2011 statement which states that responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition.

I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter.

Dalai Lama

Dharamshala
21 May 2025

Important Tibetan Buddhist Holidays in 2025

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Here is a list of important Tibetan Buddhist holidays in 2025 plus other major dates in the Tibetan calendar.

Tibetan Nuns Project 2025 calendar, Tibetan Buddhist calendary, important dates in 2025

The 2025 Tibetan Nuns Project calendar is available through our online store at tnp.org and has the Tibetan lunar calendar, ritual dates, inspirational quotes, phases of the moon, and major US and Canadian holidays. The cost is $12 and all proceeds help the nuns.

Each year, the Tibetan Nuns Project publishes a calendar with beautiful images by the nuns. By purchasing the calendar, you will help provide education, food, shelter, and health care for over 800 Tibetan Buddhist nuns living in northern India.

February 28, 2025: Losar, Tibetan New Year

The nuns at Dolma Ling make elaborate and colorful butter sculptures of flowers and Buddhist sacred symbols to decorate an offering table for Losar or Tibetan New Year. Photos by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.

Losar or Tibetan New Year is a very special time of year. In the traditional Tibetan calendar, each year has an animal, an element, and a number.

This year, Losar falls on February 28, 2025. According to the Tibetan calendar, it is the start of the year of the Wood Snake 2152.

Tibetans hang new prayer flags and burn incense at Tibetan New Year. Photo courtesy of Olivier Adam

The animals in the Tibetan calendar are similar to those in the Chinese zodiac and are in the following order: Mouse, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Bird, Dog, and Boar. The five elements are in this order: Wood, Fire, Earth, Iron, and Water.

Losar-related rituals fall into two distinct parts. First, Tibetans say goodbye to the old year and let go of all its negative or bad aspects. Part of this involves cleaning one’s home or room from top to bottom.

Tibetan Buddhist nuns making khapse for Tibetan New Year or Losar

Each year the nuns make lots of khapse biscuits in various shapes and sizes for Losar. These deep-fried Tibetan cookies are a staple of Tibetan New Year celebrations everywhere. Photos by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns

After that, Tibetans welcome the “Losar” or “new year” with prayers and by inviting all good, auspicious things into their homes and lives. They prepare special food such as khapse, fried biscuits, and a Losar noodle soup called guthuk. Here is a recipe for vegetarian guthuk.

At Losar, Tibetans hang new prayer flags and burn incense and fragrant juniper bows to welcome the new year. If you would like to hang Tibetan prayer flags, you can order them here. The prayer flags are made and blessed by Tibetan Buddhist nuns in India.

March 10 and March 12: Tibetan Uprising Day

Tibetans taking part in March 10th demonstrations Dharamsala

Nuns, monks, and lay people hold Tibetan flags and banners as they take part in a demonstration in Dharamsala, India to mark March 10th, Tibetan Uprising Day. Photo courtesy of the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.

While not a Tibetan Buddhist holiday, March 10th is a very important date in the Tibetan calendar. 2025 marks the 66th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising. In 1950, Chinese Communist forces invaded Tibet. On March 10, 1959, Tibetans attempted to take back their country with an uprising in Lhasa. The protests were crushed with brutal force.

Around the world on March 10th, Tibetans and their supporters remember and pay tribute to all those who have sacrificed their lives for Tibet’s struggle. An estimated one million Tibetans have perished and 98% of monasteries and nunneries were destroyed under the Chinese occupation.

March 12th, 2025 marks the 66th anniversary of the Tibetan Women’s Uprising. Following the National Uprising Day on March 10th, thousands of Tibetan women gathered in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa to demonstrate for Tibetan independence.

Read this blog post to learn more about these important dates and why Tibetans are in exile.

June 11, 2025: Saga Dawa Düchen

The most important month in the Tibetan calendar is Saga Dawa, the 4th lunar month which runs this year from May 28 to June 25th 2025. The 15th day of the 4th lunar month, the full moon day, is called Saga Dawa Düchen. Düchen means “great occasion” and this day is the holiest day of the year for Tibetan Buddhists. In 2025, Saga Dawa Düchen is on June 11th.

Saga Dawa, Saga Dawa Duchen, Important Tibetan Buddhist holidays,

Every year, during the month of Saga Dawa, over several days, the nuns at Dolma Ling Nunnery read the entire Tibetan Buddhist canon or Kangyur, the 108 volumes of the spoken words of the Buddha. Photo courtesy of the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.

Saga Dawa Düchen commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni. In other Buddhist traditions, this occasion is known as Vesak or is sometimes called Buddha Day.

Saga Dawa is known as the month of merits. Tibetans believe that during this month the merits of your actions are multiplied. Tibetan Buddhists make extra effort to practice more generosity, virtue, and compassion to accumulate greater merit. On the 15th day of the month or Saga Dawa Düchen the merits of your actions are hugely increased.

Tibetan Buddhist nuns reading the kangyur for Saga Dawa

Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Dolma Ling read the Kangyur, the spoken words of the Buddha, during the holy month of Saga Dawa. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.

July 6: His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Birthday

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the patron of the Tibetan Nuns Project. He turns 90 on July 6, 2025.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday on July 6th is celebrated worldwide with happiness and prayers for his good health and long life. This year, His Holiness the Dalai Lama turns 90. To mark this special year, the Central Tibetan Administration is planning a year-long celebration beginning on 6 July 2025 and running to 5 July 2026.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Geshema nuns Dec 2024

In December 2024, His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessed the Geshema nuns who had completed their year-long Tantric study program at Gyuto Tantric University funded through our Geshema Endowment Fund.

Each year on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday, the nuns pray and make special offerings of tsok, khataks (prayer scarves), and sangsol (incense offering) to His Holiness. Here’s a blog post and video of the nuns celebrating His Holiness’s birthday in 2023.

They also celebrate with games and special food such as Tibetan momos, the steamed savory dumplings that are loved by Tibetans around the world and made on Tibetan Buddhist holidays. Here is a recipe for vegetarian momos so you can celebrate at home.

July 10, 2025: Universal Prayer Day

On Universal Prayer Day nuns burn fragrant juniper boughs like other auspicious occasions, such as Tibetan New Year and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthdaytaught. Photo by the Dolma Ling Nuns’ Media Team

Universal Prayer Day or Dzam Ling Chi Sang falls on the 15th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan Lunar calendar, so it falls in June or July. This year it is on July 10th, just after His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday. It is a time for spiritual cleansing and Tibetans hang prayer flags and burn juniper twigs.

July 28, 2025: Buddha’s First Teaching

Called Chokhor Düchen, this important day falls on the fourth day of the sixth lunar month. This day is the third “great occasion” or düchen in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar. It celebrates the first teaching by the historical Buddha, named Siddhartha at birth and commonly known as Shakyamuni Buddha.

On this day, over 2,500 years ago, the Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths in Sarnath, shortly after attaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. This event is known as the “turning of the wheel of dharma”. In Theravada traditions, this event is remembered on Dhamma Day also known as Asalha Puja and is generally marked on the full moon of the eighth lunar month. To celebrate Chokhor Düchen, Tibetan Buddhists make pilgrimages to holy places, offer incense, and hang prayer flags.

November 11, 2025: Buddha’s Descent from Heaven

Tibetan Buddhist nun praying by Olivier Adam

Tibetan Buddhist nun praying. Photo courtesy of Olivier Adam.

Another “great occasion” or düchen in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar is Lhabab Düchen. This date commemorates the Buddha’s descent from the heavenly realm, where he had gone to impart teachings to his mother, Maya Devi (or Mayadevi), who had been reborn there. She had passed away seven days after his birth. To repay her kindness and liberate her from samsara, and also to benefit the gods, Buddha spent three months teaching in the realm of the gods.

Lhabab Düchen occurs on the 22nd day of the ninth lunar month, according to the Tibetan calendar. On this day, the karmic effects of our actions are multiplied millions of times. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, people engage in virtuous activities and pray to gain merit and to mark this special occasion.

February 18, 2026: Losar (Tibetan New Year)

Tibetan Buddhist nuns offering at Losar Tibetan New Year. Photo by Olivier Adam

Losar in 2026 falls on February 18th and is the start of the Year of the Fire Horse, 2153 according to the Tibetan calendar.

Keep Track with the 2025 Tibetan Nuns Project Calendar

You can order our 2025 Tibetan Nuns Project calendar. It’s a great way to keep track of the Tibetan Buddhist holidays and all the special events throughout the year. The calendar has the dates of the Tibetan lunar calendar, Tibetan holidays, and special ritual days for Tibetan Buddhist practices. It costs $12 and your purchase helps support over 800 Tibetan Buddhist nuns and seven nunneries in India. Thank you for your support!

Tibetan Buddhist Nuns Celebrate Dalai Lama’s 89th Birthday

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Each year the Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Dolma Ling celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday with various activities including prayers and games. Here are wonderful photos by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.

On July 6, 2024, His Holiness the Dalai Lama turned 89. He spent his birthday in the United States recovering from knee replacement surgery. To reassure Tibetans inside and outside of Tibet about his health, he created a special video message. Can’t see the video? Click here.

In his message he said, “There may be people trying to confuse you about my health, saying that the Dalai Lama has gone to a hospital and is undergoing treatments, and so on, making my condition sound grave. You don’t need to trust such misinformation.” He added, “I am nearly 90 now but I don’t feel unhealthy, except for the slight discomfort in my legs. I would like to thank all my fellow Tibetans in and outside Tibet for your prayers on my birthday.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's birthday celebrations

The nuns played games and had cake as part of the birthday celebrations.

Among the festivities was Dolma Ling’s annual flower competition which was held on July 5th. The old debate courtyard at the nunnery fills with beautiful potted flowers placed in front of portraits of His Holiness. Scoring for the competition is done by the teachers.

Tibetan Buddhist nuns laughing at annual flower competition

The annual flower competition to mark His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday is always fun. The nuns spend months preparing and taking care of the flowers.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday is a sacred occasion for Tibetans. The nuns pray for his good health and long life and make offerings of khatas (ceremonial white scarves) and burn fragrant juniper branches.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama birthday celebrations 2024

Tibetan Buddhist nuns pray and make offerings including sweet smoke from branches of burning juniper and other fragrant substances as part of the celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 89th birthday.

On July 6th, the US Secretary of State issued this official message:
“The United States extends best wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the occasion of his 89th birthday. Through his promotion of nonviolence and compassion, as well as his commitment to advancing human rights for all, His Holiness serves as an inspiration for the Tibetan community and many around the world. The United States reaffirms our commitment to support efforts to preserve Tibetans’ distinct linguistic, cultural, and religious heritage, including the ability to freely choose and venerate religious leaders without interference.”

Nuns line up to offer kataks on His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 89th birthday

Nuns line up to offer kataks, ceremonial prayer scarves, to the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

At celebrations in Dharamsala, Penpa Tsering, the executive head of the Central Tibetan Administration, announced that 2025 will be the “Year of Compassion” in honour of the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday.

games to celebration the Dalai Lama's birthday

Fun and games to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday.

Bulletin board at Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute with special birthday messages from the nuns to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Bulletin board at Dolma Ling with birthday messages from the nuns to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Part of the birthday celebrations included an essay-writing day.

Important Tibetan Buddhist Holidays in 2024

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Here is a list of important Tibetan Buddhist holidays in 2024 plus other major dates in the Tibetan calendar.

2024 calendar, important Tibetan Buddhist holidays in 2024, Losar 2024

The 2024 Tibetan Nuns Project calendar is available through our online store at tnp.org and has the Tibetan lunar calendar, ritual dates, inspirational quotes, phases of the moon, and major US and Canadian holidays. The cost is $12 and all proceeds help the nuns.

Each year, the Tibetan Nuns Project publishes a calendar with beautiful images by the nuns. Sales help provide education, food, shelter, and health care for over 800 Tibetan Buddhist nuns living in northern India.

February 10, 2024: Losar, Tibetan New Year

Losar or Tibetan New Year is a very special time of year. In the traditional Tibetan calendar, each year has an animal, an element, and a number.

This year Losar is on February 10, 2024. According to the Tibetan calendar, it is the start of the year of the Wood Dragon 2151.

Tibetans hang new prayer flags and burn incense at Tibetan New Year. Photo courtesy of Olivier Adam

Losar-related rituals fall into two distinct parts. First, the nuns, like all Tibetans, say goodbye to the old year and let go of all its negative or bad aspects. Part of this involves cleaning one’s home or room from top to bottom.

After that, Tibetans welcome the “Losar” or “new year” with prayers and by inviting all good, auspicious things into their homes and lives. They prepare special food such as the fried biscuits called khapse and a noodle soup called guthuk. Here is a recipe for vegetarian guthuk.

At Losar, Tibetans hang new prayer flags and also burn incense and fragrant juniper bows to welcome the new year. If you would like to hang Tibetan prayer flags, you can order them here. The prayer flags are made and blessed by Tibetan Buddhist nuns in India.

March 10 and March 12: Tibetan Uprising Day

While not a Tibetan Buddhist holiday, March 10th is a very important date in the Tibetan calendar. 2024 marks the 65th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising. Around the world, Tibetans and their supporters remember and pay tribute to all those who have sacrificed their lives for Tibet’s struggle. An estimated one million Tibetans have perished and 98% of monasteries and nunneries were destroyed under the Chinese occupation.

In 1950, Chinese Communist forces invaded Tibet. On March 10, 1959, Tibetans attempted to take back their country with an uprising in Lhasa. The protests were crushed with brutal force.

March 12th, 2024 marks the 65th anniversary of the Tibetan Women’s Uprising. Following the National Uprising Day on March 10th, thousands of Tibetan women gathered in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa to demonstrate for Tibetan independence.

Read this blog post to learn more about these important dates and why Tibetans are in exile.

May 23, 2024: Saga Dawa Düchen

The most important month in the Tibetan calendar is Saga Dawa, the 4th lunar month which runs this year from May 9 to June 6th 2024. The 15th day of the 4th lunar month, the full moon day, is called Saga Dawa Düchen. Düchen means “great occasion” and this day is the holiest day of the year for Tibetan Buddhists. In 2024, Saga Dawa Düchen is on May 23rd.

Saga Dawa Düchen commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni. In other Buddhist traditions, this occasion is known as Vesak or is sometimes called Buddha Day.

Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Dolma Ling read the Kangyur, the spoken words of the Buddha, during the holy month of Saga Dawa. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.

June 22, 2024: Universal Prayer Day

As on other auspicious occasions, such as Tibetan New Year and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday, nuns burn fragrant juniper boughs. Photo by the Dolma Ling Nuns’ Media Team

Universal Prayer Day or Dzam Ling Chi Sang falls on the 15th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan Lunar calendar, so in June or July. It is a time for spiritual cleansing. Tibetans hang prayer flags and burn juniper twigs.

July 6: His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Birthday

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday on July 6th is celebrated worldwide with happiness and prayers for his good health and long life. This year, His Holiness the Dalai Lama turns 89.

The nuns will pray and make special offerings of tsok, khataks (prayer scarves), and sangsol (incense offering) to His Holiness. Here’s a blog post and video of the nuns celebrating His Holiness’s birthday in 2023.

It’s a day of celebration with special food, such as Tibetan momos, the steamed savory dumplings that are much loved by Tibetans around the world and that are often made on Tibetan Buddhist holidays. Here is a recipe for vegetarian momos so you can celebrate at home.

July 9, 2024: Buddha’s First Teaching

Called Chokhor Düchen, this important day falls on the fourth day of the sixth lunar month. This day is the third “great occasion” (düchen) in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar. It celebrates the first teaching by the historical Buddha, named Siddhartha at birth and commonly known as Shakyamuni Buddha.

On this day, over 2,500 years ago, the Buddha gave the teaching of the Four Noble Truths in Sarnath, shortly after attaining enlightenment in Bodhgaya. This event is known as the “turning of the wheel of dharma”. In Theravada traditions, this event is remembered on Dhamma Day also known as Asalha Puja and is generally marked on the full moon of the eighth lunar month. To celebrate Chokhor Düchen, Tibetan Buddhists make pilgrimages to holy places, offer incense, and hang prayer flags.

November 22, 2024: Buddha’s Descent from Heaven

Tibetan Buddhist nun praying. Photo courtesy of Olivier Adam.

February 28, 2025: Losar (Tibetan New Year)

Tibetan Buddhist nuns offering at Losar Tibetan New Year. Photo by Olivier Adam

Losar in 2025 falls on February 28th and is the start of the Year of the Wood Snake, 2152 according to the Tibetan calendar.

Keep Track with the 2024 Tibetan Nuns Project Calendar

You can order our 2024 Tibetan Nuns Project calendar. It’s a great way to keep track of the Tibetan Buddhist holidays and all the special events throughout the year. The calendar has the dates of the Tibetan lunar calendar, Tibetan holidays, and special ritual days for Tibetan Buddhist practices. It costs $12 and your purchase helps support over 800 Tibetan Buddhist nuns and seven nunneries in India. Thank you for your support!

Tibetan Nuns Celebrate the Dalai Lama’s 88th Birthday

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On July 6th, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th birthday was celebrated by Tibetans worldwide with prayers for his good health and long life.

At Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute, home to about 250 Tibetan Buddhist nuns, His Holiness’s birthday is always a day of big celebrations. This year the nuns marked the occasion with prayers, offerings, games, and cake. The Dolma Ling Media Nuns captured the fun with this series of photos and a short video.

Dalai Lama's birthday, Dalai Lama, 88th birthday Dalai Lama,

Nuns offering white prayer scarves or kataks to the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns

The day started early with the nuns, teachers and all the staff seated in the Dolma Ling prayer hall for prayers, tsok, and offerings of Tibetan prayer scarves to His Holiness the Dalai Lama whose portrait sits at the front.

tsampa offering, throwing tsampa, His Holiness the Dalai Lama's birthday, Dolma Ling Nunnery

A circle of nuns from Dolma Ling Nunnery prepare to throw tsampa, roasted barley flour, in the air as an offering for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns

On July 6th, His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended birthday celebrations at the main temple in Dharamsala. He said, “Today, you are celebrating my 88th birthday, but when I look in the mirror, I feel I look as if I’m still in my 50s. My face doesn’t look old, it isn’t wrinkled with age. What’s more I still have all my teeth so there’s nothing I can’t eat or chew.

“I was born in Tibet and I bear this name Dalai Lama, but in addition to working for the cause of Tibet, I’ve been working for the welfare of all sentient beings. I’ve done whatever I could without losing hope or allowing my determination to flag.”

Tibetan Buddhist nuns, birthday cake for Dalai Lama,

Part of this year’s festivities included a birthday cake in honor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns

His Holiness the Dalai Lama also said, “I believe there is knowledge within Tibetan culture and religion that can benefit the world at large. However, I also respect all other religious traditions because they encourage their followers to cultivate love and compassion.”

“According to indications in my own dreams and other predictions, I expect to live to be more than 100 years old. I’ve served others until now and I’m determined to continue to do so. Please pray for my long life on that basis.”

Happy birthday messages from Tibetan nuns to the Dalai Lama

The bulletin board at Dolma Ling Nunnery displays birthday wishes and poems from the nuns to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Everyone enjoyed playing games such as a relay race and the bursting of a balloon tied to another person’s ankle. The nuns even played a game of basketball in the courtyard.

Tibetan Nuns Celebrate the Dalai Lama's 88th Birthday

There was lots of laughter as the nuns tried to grab pears with their mouths. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the Patron of the Tibetan Nuns Project. He has always been very supportive of nuns’ education and opening up opportunities for higher degrees. The first conferment of Geshema degrees to Tibetan Buddhist nuns in 2016 fulfilled a longstanding aspiration of His Holiness.

Tibetan Buddhist nuns celebrate Dalai Lama's birthday, Dolma Ling Nunnery

The courtyard of Dolma Ling Nunnery was filled with laughter as nuns watched the games and festivities marking His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th birthday on July 6th. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns

Shortly after his birthday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama travelled to Ladakh where he will give teachings from July 21-23 on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva.

The nuns played a variety of games to celebrate the occasion, including this water bucket challenge. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns

The Dolma Ling Media Nuns also created this little video. Can’t see it? Click here.

At this time of year, Dolma Ling Nunnery holds an annual flower competition. The old debate courtyard at the nunnery fills with beautiful potted flowers placed in front of portraits of His Holiness. Scoring for the competition is done by the teachers.

The annual flower contest at Dolma Ling Nunnery. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.

flower contest at Dolma Ling Nunnery 2023

The nuns make posters, cards and banners, and grow flowers in celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama birthday. During the annual flower contest, the old debate courtyard is full of beautiful potted plants.

Thank you so much for supporting the nuns through the Tibetan Nuns Project!

Geshemas Have Audience With His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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On May 17, 2023 Geshemas had a special audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Geshemas from Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute, Geden Choeling Nunnery, and Jangchub Choeling Nunnery met His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamsala.

Here is the video courtesy of Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Can’t see the video? Click here.

His Holiness spoke in Tibetan. Here’s a translation from courtesy of Dechen Tsering, a Tibetan Nuns Project board member.

“Now you all must keep studying the Buddhist script well. In order to achieve Gelongma (female Gelong) one must usually have the linage of Gelongma. Nevertheless, Buddha has granted access to his teachings to all – it is not limited to just male monks – so take the opportunity to study the scriptures well and achieve Geshema. Study the scriptures hard and benefit the world [with your knowledge and insight]. There are many people in parts of the world who previously had no idea of Buddhism who are now showing a lot of interest in the Buddha’s teachings. Therefore, by becoming Geshemas, it would be most beneficial if you now become teachers. So, do your best! Stay with peace of mind.”

“Remember that we Tibetans originally descend from the linage of the Avalokiteshvara so visualize that on the top of your head sits the Avalokiteshvara and move through the world to be kind-hearted and think only of benefiting others – never hurting others. If you do that then the blessings of Avalokiteshvara will follow you for lifetime after lifetime. I’m like the messenger of Avalokiteshvara. So, we from the people of the land of snow mountains (Tibet) are dedicated followers of Avalokiteshvara and have a special relationship with Avalokiteshvara. So, develop the Buddha’s compassion heart and do your best to benefit others and make some contribution for the benefit of others. These days there are many people showing interest in Buddhism – so if you do your best to help them. It will be very beneficial. So do your best!”

Also attending the event were Nangsa Chodon, Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India and Tsering Diki, Assistant Director.

The Tibetan Nuns Project is deeply grateful to our supporters for helping to educate and empower nuns of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as teachers and leaders.

About the Geshema Degree

The Geshema degree is the highest level of training in the Gelugpa tradition and is equivalent to a PhD in Tibetan Buddhism.

The degree was only formally opened to women in 2012. The Geshema degree is the same as a Geshe degree but is called a Geshema degree because it is awarded to women.

Fifty-three nuns hold the Geshema degree as of November 2022. The Geshemas are paving the way for other nuns to follow in their footsteps. This degree makes them eligible to assume various leadership roles in their monastic and lay communities reserved for degree holders and hence previously not open to women.

The 10 Geshema graduates from 2022. As of the start of 2023, there are 53 nuns who hold the Geshema degree.

Some Facts About the Geshema Degree

The Geshema degree is comparable to a doctorate in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy.
It is the highest level of training in the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Geshema degree is the same as the Geshe degree for monks. The ending “ma” marks it as referring to a woman.
Until recently, this highest degree could only be earned by monks.
The historic decision to confer the Geshema degree to Tibetan Buddhist nuns was announced in 2012 by the Department of Religion and Culture of the Tibetan Administration, following a meeting of representatives from six major nunneries, Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, and the Tibetan Nuns Project.
Candidates for the Geshema degree are examined on the entirety of their 17-year course of study of the Five Great Canonical Texts.
To qualify to begin the Geshema process, nuns must score 75% or above in their studies to be eligible to sit for the Geshema exams.
On December 22, 2016, His Holiness the Dalai Lama awarded 20 Tibetan Buddhist nuns with Geshema degrees at a special graduation ceremony held at Drepung Monastery in Mundgod, South India.
In 2011, a German nun, Kelsang Wangmo, who spent 21 years training in India, became the first woman to receive the Geshe degree. This was before the Geshema degree process was approved in 2012.