A two-day “Conference on Women’s Empowerment in Tibetan Buddhism” took place on May 20–21, 2026 in Dharamsala, India. This landmark gathering sought to highlight His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s vision and contributions toward strengthening the education, ordination, and recognition of Buddhist women. The photos are by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.
The two-day event was convened with three principal objectives: to reflect on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s commitment to women’s empowerment in Tibetan Buddhism, to review ongoing developments in women’s education and recognition, and to strengthen collaboration among monastic institutions, educational centers, and lay communities.
Held at Dharamsala’s Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, the conference brought together 86 participants from 13 nunneries in India and Nepal, including 69 Geshemas and 17 nuns representing all schools of Tibetan Buddhism as well as the Yungdrung Bon tradition.
The Tibetan Nuns Project was represented by former Kalon Rinchen Khando Choegyal, our Founding Director and Special Advisor; Youdon Aukatsang, the Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India and member of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile; and Geshema Delek Wangmo, Academic Principal of Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute.
Rinchen Khando Choegyal, TNP’s Founding Director and Special Advisor second from left and Youdon Aukatsang, the Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India, far right.
Key discussions focused on the institutionalization of the Geshema degree, the recognition of 21 Tibetan and Indian female Mahasiddhis, and the possibility of establishing Bhikshuni ordination within the Tibetan Mulasarvastivada Vinaya tradition.
The conference also deliberated on the curriculum development in nunneries, institutional support for the Tibetan Nuns Project, the leadership role of Geshemas in society and monastic institutions, and prospects for greater international recognition of Buddhist women.
Geshema Delek Wangmo, Academic Principal of Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute, spoke at the conference.
The conference was inaugurated by Kyabje Kundeling Tatsak Jedrung Rinpoche and Sikyong Penpa Tsering attended the closing ceremony. Other attendees included the Department of Religion and Culture Secretary Dhondul Dorjee; Dalai Lama Trust Secretary Jamphel Lhundup; scholar and translator Geshe Thupten Jinpa; Tibetan Women’s Association President Tsering Dolma; Library of Tibetan Works and Archives Director Geshe Lhakdor; Ven. Thupten Yarphel; Additional Secretary of the Department of Education (CTA) Tenzin Pema; and Head of the Women’s Empowerment Desk at the Department of Finance (CTA) Tsering Kyi.
Recognizing His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Leadership and Vision
The event recognized the lifelong efforts of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to support gender equality and expand opportunities for women within Tibetan Buddhism. The conference aimed to examine “His Holiness’s vision and concrete contributions toward strengthening the education, ordination, and recognition of Buddhist women.” His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the patron of the Tibetan Nuns Project.
The conference brought together 86 participants from 13 nunneries in India and Nepal, including 69 Geshemas and 17 nuns representing all schools of Tibetan Buddhism as well as the Yungdrung Bon tradition.
“Within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has long been an advocate for the empowerment and equal rights of women, particularly nuns,” said Jamphel Lhundup, Secretary of the Dalai Lama Trust.
“He has given numerous teachings on the importance of equality and has taken significant steps to re-establish the lineage of women’s monastic ordination… Over time, he also reintroduced the historic title of ‘Geshema’, and in 2016, the first Geshema degrees were conferred by him at Drepung Monastery in southern India. Today, there are more than 120 Geshemas, and this recognition underscores the high esteem and respect accorded to Tibetan nuns. All these achievements bear witness to the profound impact of the grace and vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” Jamphel Lhundup said.
The conference included 69 Geshemas. Ten years ago, in 2016, the first Tibetan Buddhist nuns earned their Geshema degrees. That historic occasion was a dream come true for the 20 pioneering nuns, most of whom were illiterate when they escaped from Tibet. The Geshema degree is the highest level of training in the Gelug tradition and is equivalent to a PhD in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy.
During the closing ceremony, Sikyong Penpa Tsering stressed that it was due to the astute and visionary leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama that Tibetan Buddhism has continued to be preserved in exile, including the unprecedented conferment of Geshema degrees, regarded as a landmark reform in Tibetan Buddhism.
Rinchen Khando Choegyal, the Tibetan Nuns Projects’s Founding Director and Special Advisor, spoke at the conference.
The Tibetan Nuns Project Higher Studies Fund
One of the projects that the Tibetan Nuns Project is working on now is the Higher Studies Fund, a quasi-endowment dedicated to supporting the Geshema degree process as well as post-graduate training in Tantric Studies.
An increasing number of nuns in the Gelug tradition are seeking higher education. They are taking the rigorous four-year Geshema exams in record numbers, and many also wish to pursue post-graduate training in Tantric Buddhism as part of a program launched by the Tibetan Nuns Project in 2017.
The number of nuns taking the four-year Geshema exams has tripled since 2019. The small fund we created in 2021 no longer covers the costs for the growing numbers or rising food and transport. Please support the Higher Studies Fund, a quasi-endowment that will support Tibetan Buddhist nuns who wish to become Geshemas, teachers, and leaders and to preserve their religion, culture, and language.
Unfortunately, the modest Geshema Endowment Fund that the Tibetan Nuns Project established in 2021 can no longer support the growing number of nuns and the rising costs of transportation and food. Our goal is to build up the Higher Studies Fund so that both the Geshema exam process AND the Tantric Studies program are self-sustaining.
Through higher studies, Tibetan Buddhist nuns can become fully qualified teachers of their traditions and help preserve Tibet’s rich religion and culture.
The mission of the Tibetan Nuns Project is to educate and empower nuns of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as teachers and leaders; and to establish, strengthen, and support educational institutions to preserve the Tibetan religion and culture. You can see all our current projects here.
We are delighted to report that the retreat center at Shugsep Nunnery and Institute is built and fully furnished thanks to generous donors. Eight senior nuns have now started their retreats. This big project was launched in the fall of 2022 and completed in the spring of 2026. We are extremely grateful to all the donors who made this dream a reality.
The completed retreat center will elevate aspirations, set higher standards, and strengthen the confidence of the next generation of nuns. Here’s a detailed report with photos, videos, and a special message from the Khenpo or Abbot of Shugsep.
The Shugsep Retreat Center is an important place that supports nuns in deep spiritual learning and long retreats. It follows the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and offers a peaceful space for meditation, rituals, and personal spiritual growth. The nuns express their deep gratitude to the kind and generous donors who helped build and furnish the newly established retreat center.
The retreat center makes visible a clear path of progression: from study to retreat to teaching. This opportunity was previously limited because retreats had to be undertaken elsewhere. A lasting impact is the inspiration provided to younger nuns.
Now, for the first time in its history in exile, the nunnery has a purpose-built facility where senior nuns can enter long-term retreat within their own community. This achievement provides continuity for the nuns’ path of teaching while fortifying the belief that their years of rigorous training culminate in meaningful opportunities for spiritual growth and integration.
The Shugsep Retreat Centre was formally inaugurated on 18 February 2026, coinciding with the first day of Tibetan Losar. The ceremony was led by Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche.
Eight Nuns Start Retreat
On March 30, 2026, eight nuns began their retreat following an initial ritual ceremony led by Rinpoche Jigme Namgyal from Tso Pema at Rewalsar. He also conducted the first three days of basic teachings on retreat practice for the nuns entering retreat.
Part of the ceremony for the nuns entering retreat on March 30, 2026 at the new retreat center at Shugsep Nunnery. Until now, the nuns had to travel to Nepal or Tso Pema to practice retreat.
All eight nuns on retreat have previous retreat experience, so they are prepared for long and intensive practice. The initial group of nuns includes six newly enthroned Khenmos and two Lopenmas who are trained teachers and practitioners.
Before entering retreat, one of the Khenmos spoke about her happiness and readiness to begin. She said that, as a retreat continues, she feels more happiness, inner peace, and mental clarity. As the mind settles and distractions fade, practitioners feel a deeper sense of contentment through simplicity, discipline, and steady awareness. She also said that practicing retreat helps turn intellectual understanding into direct experience, giving her and the other nuns the focused, disciplined time needed to truly absorb and apply what they’ve learned. Thus, the retreat is not merely an academic or ritual engagement, but a deeply experiential process aimed at transforming the practitioner’s mind at its core.
Here are the 8 nuns (6 Khenmos and 2 Lopenmas) who entered retreat on March 30, 2026 – the first to use the new retreat center.
The most enduring benefit is the strengthening of teaching capacity within the nunnery. Many of the nuns who will use the retreat center are holders of the Loponma degree, the highest degree in their tradition. Following their retreats, they will be fully qualified to guide junior nuns and contribute to the wider community. This creates a sustainable cycle of study, retreat, and teaching that secures Shugsep’s role as a respected Nyingma institution.
Here is a video made by the nuns explaining the importance of practicing retreat. If you can’t see the video, click here.
A Special Message from the Khenpo
After spending years learning and contemplating the sutra and tantra texts, one has to gain direct insight by applying the teachings to one’s personal experience. For this, one has to consciously distance oneself from the outer world, which will help retreat from the distractions of the mundane world. Retreat is considered a powerful and essential method for cultivating inner peace, wisdom, and ultimately, liberation.
The example of Buddha himself serves as a powerful illustration; he spent six years in intensive retreat prior to his awakening. Post his liberation, he would periodically retreat into the forest for weeks and months of meditation before returning to continue teaching and guiding others in their practice.
Spiritual retreats are considered essential for the development of one’s personal practice. Generally, after completing their philosophical studies, the nuns will go into retreat to allow sufficient time for reflection, prayer, and meditation to internalize what they have studied.
By closing the door to the external world, practitioners gain uninterrupted time and space for focused practice. This dedicated time allows practitioners to explore deeper spiritual development.
Retreat is not only for personal benefit. The wisdom and compassion deepened in solitude naturally flow outward, allowing practitioners to support and inspire others more meaningfully on their own spiritual path.
We are truly fortunate and deeply grateful to have established a well-equipped retreat center within our nunnery, a milestone that marks a significant and long-awaited development for our community. This is not merely a new building; it is a sacred space dedicated to inner transformation and the deepening of spiritual practice.
In the past, our nuns had to travel all the way to Nepal to undertake long-term retreat, facing the hardships of distance and separation from their home community. Now, that has changed. Our nuns can enter deep, uninterrupted practice within the warmth and familiarity of their own nunnery.
About the New Shugsep Retreat Center
The completed retreat center provides accommodation for up to eight nuns at a time. Each of the eight self-contained rooms has been designed to meet the practical and spiritual needs of the nuns.
They include a private toilet and washroom, storage space, a small kitchenette counter, and sufficient room for both study and prostrations, which are an integral part of their daily practice.
One of the rooms at new Shugsep Retreat Center. Eight senior nuns began their retreats on March 30, 2026, occupying all available retreat rooms. The rooms are spacious enough that the nuns can do prostrations..
Each of the retreat rooms contains:
A low wooden bed with a simple coconut fibre and memory foam mattress (favoured by the nuns as they are breathable and firm for sitting on) and a low table on which the nuns will place their prayer and study books.
A large cupboard for storing their clothes and blankets and a shelf unit with lower cupboards to be used as a shrine and bookshelf.
Curtain rods and good-quality curtains, as well as a woven rug for the floor.
A chair.
A small kitchenette with some shelving and storage as well as a few pieces of kitchen equipment.
In addition to the individual retreat rooms, the building contains a communal prayer hall where nuns in retreat can gather periodically for teachings, group prayer, and guidance from visiting teachers.
Not all the nuns’ time will be spent in isolation. Some sessions will be undertaken as a group and the prayer hall is a space where they can receive instructions from an outside teacher, do prayer sessions together, and have the opportunity to talk among themselves to clear away doubts and concerns and to strengthen their practice.
Inside the prayer hall at the official opening of the retreat center.
This prayer room has:
A wooden floor and a decorative shrine with statues from the nunnery.
8 low tables and 4 long sitting mattresses with Tibetan carpets on top.
A low teachers’ seat with mattress, carpet, and a low table.
A large bookshelf.
The retreat center also has a shared kitchen/dining room that provides space for nuns to warm food provided by the nunnery kitchen and to make their own light meals and tea. Finally, a dining table and chairs have been provided, thanks to your generosity, allowing the nuns to eat together if they wish. Daily meals will be delivered to their doors by designated nuns to avoid disturbing the nuns’ retreat.
Stocking the shelves of the communal kitchen at the new Shugsep retreat center. The first eight nuns entered retreat on March 30, 2026.
The kitchen/dining room contains:
2 large dining tables and 10 chairs.
Cooking equipment including a simple two-burner gas range, a kettle, and a microwave oven in which to warm up food which will be supplied from the main nunnery kitchen.
A refrigerator and a washing machine.
A wooden cupboard and shelving for utensils, crockery, and food items.
Sundry kitchen equipment such as a drain rack, clothes rack, and waste bins.
The communal kitchen at the retreat center that the nuns can use. Most of their meals will be supplied by the nunnery kitchen and delivered to their doors by designated nuns so that they are not disturbed on retreat.
Retreat participants bring only what they truly need, such as:
Basic necessities (clothes, personal items).
Ritual items for their practices.
Essential texts for study and recitation.
The Structure and Phases of Retreat
Participants enter the retreat with clear spiritual intentions and long-term aspirations. Beyond individual development, the retreat also prepares practitioners to contribute meaningfully to their communities in the future, whether through teaching, guidance, or continued practice.
The practice begins with about a month of foundational training to build discipline and focus, followed by a main retreat that usually lasts around a year. It then continues with ongoing practices that can extend for three years, depending on the practitioner’s dedication and spiritual progress.
Since the nuns have different levels of prior retreat experience, they continue from where they previously left off. As a result, the duration of the retreat varies among them.
The nuns in retreat start their day at 4 a.m. and end it at 11 p.m. They take short breaks in between and continue their recitation and meditation practices.
Challenges in Building the Retreat Center
Shugsep Nunnery is 5 kilometers below Dharamsala on a 5-acre plot of land. Because of sloping nature of the terraced land, there was very little space left which could be easily built on without overcrowding the buildings.
The Shugsep nuns worked hard to clear the steep overgrown land for the retreat center.
The nuns considered finding another plot of land nearby, but land prices and the difficulty in registering the land made them reconsider locating the retreat center within the nunnery grounds. In 2022, the nuns cleared the bushes on the steep overgrown land near the nunnery entrance to see if it would be feasible to construct a retreat center there. They called in a team of local architects who made a detailed survey of the land and came up with plans based on a brief which was discussed with the nuns and the Khenpo who is head of the nunnery.
The Tibetan Nuns Project began fundraising for a retreat center in the fall of 2022 and the center opened in the spring of 2026.
An important point of the architects’ brief was that the retreat center should provide seclusion and privacy for the nuns. The nuns confine themselves to this one building for the duration of their retreat and should not be seen by outsiders, except for an occasional visiting teacher. The architects suggested that a sense of seclusion and invisibility could be achieved by raising the building high above the road so that no one can see into the balconies. The land in front and behind was be planted with flowering shrubs screening the building from outside view. To reduce noise so the nuns can meditate peacefully, the windows have double glazing and fly screens.
Cross section plan of the retreat center. The size and shape of the land posed restrictions.
The second point was to provide the nuns on retreat with a wide-open view to relieve their minds of tension. In the past in Tibet, retreat centers were located high on mountainsides. The position of the retreat center on the hillside overlooking farm land and the wide valley below provides the nuns with an expansive view.
The nuns helped with the construction of the Shugsep Retreat Center.
The size and shape of the land limited the number of individual nuns rooms to 8, two on each floor in two buildings on either side of the central community building. According to the Khenpo, this is sufficient because if all the nuns were to decide to go into retreat at once there would be no one to teach the younger nuns or administer the nunnery. The nuns will rotate who goes into retreat and must agree to a specific duration to allow others the chance to take their place.
Rinchen Khando Choegyal, the Tibetan Nuns Project Founding Director and Special Advisor, with young Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Shugsep Nunnery. Senior nuns are now teaching at the nunnery and will take turns going on retreat.
About Shugsep Nunnery
A Nyingma nunnery, Shugsep traces its rituals and practice to some of the most illustrious female practitioners in Tibetan history. In the previous century, Shugsep Nunnery was home to one of the most famous teachers of her time, Shugsep Jetsunma.
Following the Cultural Revolution in 1959, Shugsep Nunnery in Tibet was completely destroyed. Although the nunnery was partially rebuilt in the 1980s by the nuns themselves, the nuns there faced frequent harassment by Chinese authorities.
In the late 1980s and 1990s many Tibetan Buddhist nuns escaped from Tibet including a large number of nuns from the original Shugsep Nunnery. They lived for many years in cramped conditions before the Tibetan Nuns Project re-established Shugsep Nunnery. It was inaugurated in 2010. Photo from 1991 by Susan Lirakis
Many of the nuns at Shugsep in India came from the original Shugsep Nunnery in Tibet. They were expelled by Chinese authorities for their political activities on behalf of Tibet and escaped over the Himalayas to practice their religion in India.
When the nuns first escaped, they lived in this rented house near Dharamsala.
Shugsep Nunnery was re-established in India in 1992 and the newly built nunnery was inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in December 2010. It is one of two nunneries built and completely supported by the Tibetan Nuns Project. The other is Dolma Ling.
Here’s a charming video tour of the nunnery made in 2017. If you can’t see the video, click here.
Thanks to five generous donors, the Research Center at Shugsep Nunnery and Institute opened in March 2026! Here is an interim report with a video about the first three nuns doing research.
Background to the Research Training Center
In the autumn of 2025, the nuns at Shugsep Nunnery and Institute in India asked for help to establish a Research Training Center for the senior nuns, so they could become qualified researchers and inspire other nuns to follow in their footsteps.
The research center at Shugsep opened in March 2026 with three senior Shugsep nuns as trainee researchers: Tsultrim Dolma (right), Pema Dolma (middle), and Thupten Choewang (also known as Tsering Wangmo) (left).
Thanks to the generosity of five donors, the nuns were able to equip the room and launch the program at the start of the new academic year in March 2026. The research center will strengthen the academic and research foundations of the nunnery and enable the nuns to integrate their traditional Buddhist studies with modern research practices.
Here is a video from March 2026 about the start of the program and the first three nuns who are doing research. Can’t see the video? Click here.
The Research Center at Shugsep Nunnery
The Research Center at Shugsep started in March 2026 with three senior nuns who will learn research best practices and start their research projects. Under the guidance of a certified professor and researcher, they will undergo a rigorous one-year training program. After successfully completing the program, the nuns will be able to train future generations of nuns, thereby bridging the continuity of advanced learning within the nunnery.
As part of the programme, the participating Loponmas will also attend workshops with visits by Professor Dr. Dorji Wangchuk of the University of Hamburg in Germany, who has already established similar research programs at Namdroling Monastery, Dzongsar Institute, Gangtok Institute, and other Nyingma monasteries.
One of the senior nuns who began her research training in March 2026 at the new center at Shugsep Nunnery and Institute.
Thanks to our generous donors, the nuns can:
Purchase and install equipment for the center, such as computers, a projector, printer, battery, and bookshelves.
Recruit and hire a certified researcher/professor to conduct the one-year training program.
Support the research program in line with Professor Wangchuk’s curriculum.
Facilitate the Loponmas’ participation in external workshops at the other established research centers in Nepal, South India, Himachal Pradesh, and Gangtok.
Support the process of evaluation and certification of the Loponmas as they complete their research training.
The goal is sustainability. The trained Loponmas will assume the role of teachers, thereby continuing the program for future Loponma trainees to be self-reliant.
Sixteen of the 19 Khenmos from Shugsep had an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on March 13, 2026.
The Development of Shugsep’s Academic Program
Shugsep Nunnery and Institute was re-established in exile in India by the Tibetan Nuns Project. Construction began in 2006 and the nunnery was inaugurated in 2010. This Nyingma nunnery near Dharamsala is currently home to about 100 nuns.
2025 marked the 15th anniversary of the inauguration of Shugsep Nunnery and Institute, now home to about 100 nuns. The original rented house where the nuns lived after their escape is on the left.
Here is a video made in 2006 telling the story of Shugsep Nunnery in Tibet and how it was re-established in India by the Tibetan Nuns Project. Can’t see the video? Click here.
The original Shugsep in Tibet was destroyed in the Cultural Revolution in 1959, and the nuns were forced to leave. The nunnery was partially rebuilt by nuns in the 1980s, but they faced frequent harassment by the Chinese authorities. Seeking the freedom to practice their religion and culture, many Shugsep nuns escaped from Tibet to northern India.
A Nyingma nunnery, Shugsep traces its rituals and practices to some of the most illustrious female practitioners in Tibetan history. In exile, the nuns were given the opportunity to participate in a nine-year academic program of Buddhist philosophy, debate, Tibetan language and English.
The research training center at the nunnery will promote advanced learning for the senior nuns.
Currently, there are 60 Shugsep nuns who have graduated with their Loponma degree, the highest academic degree in their philosophic tradition, roughly equivalent to a Master’s. In February 2026, 19 senior nuns were enthroned as Khenmos at Shugsep’s historic khenmo enthronement ceremony. A Khenmo is the highest scholarly and teaching title for nuns in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is equivalent to the Khenpo title given to monks.
In the spring of 2025, the nuns at Sherab Choeling Nunnery in the high-altitude Spiti Valley requested assistance to insulate the ground floor of their nunnery, to protect against cold, dampness, and mold.
A “before” picture. Head nun, Ani Butith, shows the state of her room at the nunnery. Like the other 24 rooms, it suffers from visible mold and peeling walls. The rooms were very cold during winter.
The existing living conditions were posing a serious health hazard to the nuns. Five nuns had already fallen ill due to the damp and mold.
We are happy to report that, thanks to 44 generous donors, the insulation and wood panelling project at Sherab Choeling Nunnery has now been completed. Here is a report with photos and a sweet video made by the nuns.
An archival photo showing the nuns clearing snow off the roof of the nunnery. The nunnery is located at an altitude of approximately 12,500 feet (3,800 meters) and can be cut off in winter. The cold and damp were impacting the health and well-being of the nuns.
Background to the Mold and Cold Mitigation Project
Sherab Choeling Nunnery is home to approximately 60 nuns who live and study in extremely harsh climatic conditions, especially during winter when temperatures fall well below freezing and heavy snowfall often isolates the region.
The objective of this project was to address severe cold, dampness and mold issues within the nunnery buildings to improve the health and living conditions of the resident nuns.
The nunnery buildings were constructed using traditional mud and local materials. While this is culturally appropriate in the region, the aging structures developed significant damp issues over time which encouraged the growth of mold on the interior walls.
The kitchen and dining area at the nunnery was severely damaged by dampness, especially in the corners. This not only affected hygiene but also made the space difficult to maintain. Now this area has new insulation and wood panelling and is much more comfortable and healthy for the nuns.
Poor insulation against the extreme cold and persistent moisture retention led to unhealthy living conditions, and several nuns developed health problems, including joint pain, knee and back problems, and increased physical discomfort during the winter months, which impacted their ability to carry out their daily tasks.
Due to extreme winter weather and frequent road closures, the nuns found it difficult to remain in Spiti during the peak winter months. For the past few years, they have been temporarily relocating to Hamirpur, where the Spiti community generously provided hostel accommodation until the snow cleared.
The nuns unload wood for panelling project at Sherab Choeling. The major project took many months to complete and is already having a profound impact on the well-being of the nuns.
Your Generosity in Action
Despite the challenging location, the work went smoothly. Fortunately, this winter did not bring heavy snowfall, which allowed the timber wood panelling work to continue without interruption.
The following areas have now been fully completed with wood panelling:
— The nuns’ residences
— The kitchen and dining area
— The temple/prayer hall
Before and after. One of the nuns’ shared rooms with the new panelling making the space much warmer and liveable.
Huge Impact on the Nuns’ Lives
The nuns report that the wood panels are helping to keep the rooms warmer. They also reduce dampness and prevent mold from growing because black foam was placed between the wall and the wooden panels. This method is commonly practiced by people in the Spiti Valley to protect their homes from dampness and mold.
A carpenter making wood panelling for Sherab Choeling. The nuns say in their video, “It has truly changed our lives.”
The nuns have expressed great happiness and satisfaction with the completed work. This project marks a meaningful improvement in both their physical well-being and daily living environment.
The prayer room and temple room at Sherab Choeling before and after the wood panelling. You can see the damp, moldy walls on the left before the work was done to insulate the room.
The nuns of Sherab Choeling Nunnery extend their heartfelt gratitude to all donors and supporters who made this project possible.
Here’s a video that the nuns made for you. Can’t see the video? Click here.
Ani Butith, who has been in the nunnery for the past 30 years and currently acts as the administrator, conveyed sincere appreciation on behalf of all the nuns. She shared that although they may not be able to repay the generosity materially, they will offer Long Life and Tara prayers at the nunnery dedicated to all donors and supporters as a gesture of their gratitude.
A carpenter prepares wood panellling. The nuns say in their video, “Before this the cold would seep into our bones, leaving many of us with aching backs and knees. But this year is different. Our rooms are finally a sanctuary of warmth.”
Conclusion
The Mold and Cold Mitigation Project through wood paneling at Sherab Choeling Nunnery has been successfully completed. The intervention addresses long-standing issues of dampness, mold, and extreme cold exposure and is expected to bring lasting positive change to the health and daily lives of the nuns.
The nuns say the wood panelling and insulation has truly changed their lives. “Before this, the cold would seep into our bones, leaving many of us with aching backs and knees. But this year is different. Our rooms are finally a sanctuary of warmth. We burn less firewood and, most importantly, the health of our sisters has improved so much.”
Thank you to all the donors and supporters for making this project possible and successful!
An archival photo of the nuns shovelling a path around the nunnery. Winters in the Spiti Valley can be very severe with temperatures dropping as low as -22ºF or -30ºC.
The first-ever Khenmo enthronement at Shugsep Nunnery was held on February 18, 2026, the first day of Tibetan New Year or Losar. Here is a report with photos by the media nuns at Shugsep Nunnery.
At the historic Khenmo enthronement on February 18, 2026 with chief guests. There are only 18 Khenmos pictured instead of 19 because one nun is currently teaching in the United States and was unable to attend the ceremony.
A Khenmo is the highest scholarly and teaching title for nuns in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is equivalent to the Khenpo title given to monks.
A collage of photos showing the ceremonial procession for the historic Khenmo enthronement on February 18, 2026.
The ceremony was led by Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche, the main preceptor for the enthronement. The event included traditional ritual prayers, a white scarf (katak) offering ceremony, speeches by various dignitaries, and the presentation of special items such as the red hat signifying the Khenmos’ status.
Nuns playing Tibetan long horns or dungchen, They have a deep, low sound and are played to welcome high lamas and Rinpoches to a monastery or temple.
On this day, in the presence of Khenchen Pema Sherab, all 19 nuns received the Khenmo title through the enthronement ceremony, followed by oath-taking, rituals, the offering of ceremonial scarves, and speeches.
The Khenmos, wearing their red hats signifying their status, are seated in front of huge piles of ceremonial white scarves or kataks given to them as a mark of respect.
The day was also covered by the Voice of Tibet news station, based in Dharamsala. Here is the video. Can’t see the video? Click here.
Special Guests
The guest list included:
– Chief Guest Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile
– Mr. Dhondul Dorjee, Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture, Central Tibetan Administration
– Staff members of the Tibetan Nuns Project India office
– Ms. Nangsa Choedon, Former Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project office in India
– Representatives from nunneries, monasteries, and non-governmental organizations around Dharamsala
Khenchen and Shugsep Khenpo Namgyal shared the history of Shugsep and the significance of the Khenmo title, and expressed gratitude to the Tibetan Nuns Project for its continuous support.
Tibetan Nuns Project Director Youdon Aukatsang, Mr. Dhondul Dorjee (Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture, CTA), and the Chief Guest Khenpo Sonam Tenphel (Speaker of Tibetan Parliament in Exile) also delivered speeches.
Youdon Aukatsang, the Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project office in India, said, “The millennium-old Shugsep Nunnery has reached a momentous milestone with the elevation of its nuns to the Khenmo level. We share a duty to ensure they have the support needed to translate their deep knowledge into a legacy of service for all humanity.”
During the ceremony, Shugsep Nunnery also presented souvenirs to honor Rinchen Khando Choegyal (TNP’s Founding Director and Special Advisor) and Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Napper (TNP’s U.S. Founder and Board Chair) for their lifelong support and service to the nunneries.
The souvenirs for Rinchen Khando Choegyal and Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Napper and one of the two certificates of appreciation from Shugsep Nunnery marking their decades of dedication to the nuns.
Part of the text on the Certificate of Appreciation reads:
… for the upliftment of Tibetan Buddhist nuns in exile in all aspects — education, healthcare, character building, management skills, resilience and above all self-confidence and community service. Thanks to your unflinching support, many nuns have been successful in graduating with Loponma, Geshema and Khenmo degrees, the highest certification in advanced Buddhist philosophical studies which is unprecedented in the history of traditional Tibetan Buddhist nunneries.
In March, the Khenmos had a special audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Here’s a very nice video about the audience in Tibetan, with interviews with some of the khenmos and with Youdon Aukatsang, the Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India. The video also speaks about this history of Shugsep Nunnery and shows archival photos of the original Shugsep nunnery in Tibet.
What is a Khenmo?
A Khenmo is the highest scholarly and teaching title for nuns in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is equivalent to the Khenpo title given to monks. To become eligible for Khenmo:
A nun must complete nine years of rigorous Buddhist studies.
She has received the Loponma degree, equivalent to a Master’s degree.
After this, she must serve the nunnery for at least four years.
Service includes teaching, administration, guiding students, or other responsibilities.
She must maintain pure discipline, with no record of serious violations.
Unlike the Geshema degree, there is no written examination for the Khenmo title. Eligibility is based on education, years of service, leadership, and moral conduct.
A collage of photos from the historic Khenmo enthronement at Shugsep on February 18, 2026.
The nuns enthroned in February 2026 completed their Loponma studies between 2004 and 2022. Since then, they have fulfilled their required years of service: Some have taught Buddhist texts, some have managed administrative duties, some have guided study and revision programs for junior nuns.
Why This System is New for Nuns
Traditionally, only monks were enthroned as Khenpo. This was because the full nun ordination lineage (Gelongma) was not historically present in Tibet. Without full ordination, nuns could not receive the same monastic titles.
In recent decades, Tibetan Buddhist leaders recognized this historical gap and created a new system. Instead of requiring full Gelongma ordination, nuns who complete higher studies and long-term service can now be enthroned as Khenmo. This change opened the door for nuns to receive equal recognition as scholars and spiritual leaders.
The Khenmos with Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche. Only 18 Khenmos are in the pictures instead of 19 because Loponma Tsering Lhamo was unable to attend the ceremony, as she is currently serving as a teacher at Tara Mandala International Buddhist Community in the United States.
Responsibilities After Enthronement and Impact
The role of the Khenmos is not only scholarly, but also leadership and representation. After receiving the Khenmo title, the nuns will take on greater responsibilities:
Some will continue teaching advanced Buddhist studies.
Some will lead administrative management of the nunnery.
Some will enter long-term retreat.
During major events, Khenmos will represent Shugsep Nunnery in religious gatherings and official functions.
The Khenmo enthronement strengthens leadership among nuns, raises educational standards in the nunnery, ensures self-sufficiency in teaching and training, inspires younger nuns to pursue higher studies, and promotes gender equality in Tibetan Buddhism.
We are sometimes asked about the meaning of windhorse Tibetan prayer flags. The windhorse is a sacred mythical creature in Tibetan culture, believed to carry prayers to the heavenly realm using the strength and speed of the wind.
Lungta (Tib: རླུངྲ་) means air or wind, and ta (རྟ་) is horse. So, Lung-ta means an air-horse or windhorse. Lungta, or windhorse, is a sacred symbol in Tibetan culture. It is believed to raise a person’s energy and carry prayers and intentions to the divine. When travelling through Tibetan settlements or Himalayan villages, you will often see colorful prayer flags hanging on rooftops, trees, bridges, and mountain ridges.
Different types of prayer flags hanging in the breeze. Different types of prayer flags hanging in the breeze. Lungta in Tibetan ( རླུང་རྟ) is translated to “windhorse”. The first Tibetan syllable “lung” རླུང represents the element “wind” or “air” in the five elements of “earth, water, fire, air, and space”. The second syllable “ta” རྟ means horse.
In Tibetan Buddhism, many actions are done with spiritual meaning, and religious items are often blessed before use. Hanging Lungta, or prayer flags, is an important tradition. Tibetan Buddhists hang Lungta flags after they have been blessed by lamas or at monasteries. Once the flags receive these blessings, they are believed to be spiritually empowered and ready to be hung.
A Tibetan Buddhist nuns hangs new prayer flags at Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute. It is traditional to hang new prayer flags at Losar or Tibetan New Year. Photo courtesy of Olivier Adam.
After an object is blessed and the ritual is completed, it is important to handle it respectfully — for example, keeping it in a safe and clean place and using it appropriately. Likewise, the Tibetan prayer flags we sell here through our online store are all made by nuns and have already undergone the necessary rituals and blessings. When placed outdoors such as on rooftops, mountain passes, or sacred sites, the wind carries the prayers and mantras printed on the flags, spreading blessings, compassion, peace, and good fortune to all beings.
Meaning of the Symbols on Windhorse Prayer Flags
Here’s a detailed photo of one of the windhorse (Lungta) prayer flags made by the nuns, showing the prayers and sacred symbols. The Lungta or windhorse is in the center, surrounded by mantras. In the corners are the four auspicious animals, and, at the sides, are the eight auspicious Buddhist symbols.
The central image on the prayer flag is the windhorse, symbolizing good fortune, luck, and the power to influence events. It is depicted carrying a wish-fulfilling jewel on its back.
In the four corners of each prayer flag are the Four Auspicious Animals. Clockwise from the upper left, they are the Garuda (upper left), Dragon (upper right), Snow Lion (bottom right), and Tiger (bottom left).
A Tibetan Buddhist nun makes prayer flags at Dolma Ling Nunnery. All the prayer flags sold in our online store are made and blessed by nuns in India.
These “Four Auspicious Animals” are also called the Four Mythical Creatures, the Four Guardians, the Four Gods, or the Four Dignities in Buddhist mythology. In Buddhism, these four guardian animals symbolize the overcoming of birth, old age, sickness, and death. They are also known as the guardians of the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west.
These sacred mythical animals also represent the qualities and attitudes that bodhisattvas develop on the path to enlightenment — qualities such as awareness, vast vision, confidence, joy, humility, and power.
The Meaning of the Four Auspicious Animals in Buddhism
GARUDA: The Garuda is an enormous, mythical bird of prey that represents fearlessness, power, and wisdom. Known for its ability to soar to great heights, it symbolizes the mind’s ability to rise above worldly concerns and attain spiritual liberation. It is believed to be able to subdue nagas (serpent spirits), representing the victory of wisdom over ignorance. It represents the north in the four cardinal directions.
DRAGON: The thunder dragon, also known as druk (འབྲུག) in Tibetan and Bhutanese mythology, is the national symbol of Bhutan and is depicted on the Bhutanese flag. The dragon was adopted as an emblem by the Drukpa Lineage, which originated in Tibet and spread to Bhutan. Tibetan dragons are used on prayer flags, carpets, furniture, thangkas, and to decorate temple gates and roofs. They are believed to bring enlightenment. elegance, generosity, calmness, and achievements.
The Tibetan flag with the pair of snow lions. The snow lion is the emblem of Tibet and is one of the Four Auspiciaous Animals on the corners of the windhorse prayer flag.
SNOW LION: The snow lion (གངས་སེང་གེ་) is the emblem of Tibet, and a pair of snow lions is on the national flag of Tibet. The snow lion represents both the snowy mountain ranges and glaciers of Tibet and also symbolizes fearlessness and joy, power and strength, the direction east, and the earth element. The lion’s roar embodies the sound of “emptiness” (Sanskrit: Śūnyatā), courage and truth, and this is often a synonym for the Buddhadharma, the Buddha’s teachings and the challenging call to awakening.
TIGER: The tiger may represent power, confidence, discipline, and modesty. In Tibetan Buddhist culture, the tiger is often associated with the famous Buddhist saint, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who is believed to have subdued the local deities and demons, bringing Buddhism to the region. The tiger represents the earthly realm and the fierce determination needed to overcome obstacles on the spiritual path.
What are the Prayers on the Prayer Flags?
At the center of a Lungta is the windhorse carrying three flaming jewels on its back. The horse represents strength, energy, and the ability to turn misfortune into good fortune. The three jewels represent the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the Buddhist community), which are the three main pillars of Tibetan Buddhism.
The mantra Om Mani Padme Hum in Tibetan.
At the top of the prayer flag, in an archaic script, it says OM MANI PADME HUM. This is the primary mantra of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha and Bodhisattva of compassion. It is recited by Tibetans everywhere, and may be loosely translated as “Om, the Jewel in the Lotus, HUM.”
Around the central symbol of the windhorse or lungta are traditional mantras. Tibetan prayer flags vary, but the mantras used are one of the hundreds recited by the three Bodhisattvas or Gurus — Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion, or Manjusri, known for transcendent wisdom. The oldest and most popular Buddhist mantra on the flags is Om Mani Padme Hum. Here’s a blog post in which His Holiness the Dalai Lama explains the deep meaning of Om Mani Padme Hum.
Tibetan prayer flags flutter in the wind at a mountain pass. Each of the five colors has a specific meaning and represents an element.
The Meaning of the Colors of Prayer Flags
Tibetan prayer flags come in sets of five, with one flag in each of the five colors. The colors from left to right are in this specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. Each color has a meaning and represents an element.
According to Traditional Tibetan medicine, health and harmony are produced through the balance of the five elements.
Blue symbolizes the sky and space.
White symbolizes the air and wind.
Red symbolizes fire.
Green symbolizes water.
Yellow symbolizes earth.
Traditionally, prayer flags are hung from high points like mountain passes, temples, and rooftops, allowing the wind to carry the prayers far and wide.
It is traditional to hang new prayer flags at Losar, Tibetan New Year. Here a nun at Dolma Ling Nunnery removes the old weathered prayer flags and respectfully burns them. Photo courtesy of Olivier Adam.
In Tibetan Buddhism, people often choose an auspicious day or date to hang a Lungta (prayer flag). These days are selected based on the lunar calendar and traditional astrological calculations to ensure that the blessings of the flags are most effective. Hanging the flags on a favorable day is believed to increase positive energy, bring good fortune, and enhance the spiritual power of the prayers and mantras printed on the flags. Many families and communities make it a special occasion, sometimes performing small ceremonies or offerings before placing the flags outdoors.
On February 18th, 2026, the first day of the Tibetan New Year, Shugsep Nunnery and Institute will hold its first-ever Khenmo Enthronement Ceremony. A total of 19 nuns will be enthroned as Khenmo, making this a historic milestone for the nunnery.
Shugsep Nunnery follows the education system of Namdroling Monastery and Namdroling Nunnery. Namdroling Nunnery held its first Khenmo enthronement in 2022. Following the same tradition and system, Shugsep Nunnery will now celebrate its own first Khenmo enthronement this year.
The nuns paint sacred Buddhist symbols to welcome Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche, the chief guest of the upcoming Khenmo Enthronement.
What is a Khenmo?
A Khenmo is the highest scholarly and teaching title for nuns in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is equivalent to the Khenpo title given to monks. To become eligible for Khenmo:
A nun must complete nine years of rigorous Buddhist studies.
She has received the Loponma degree, equivalent to a Master’s degree.
After this, she must serve the nunnery for at least four years.
Service includes teaching, administration, guiding students, or other responsibilities.
She must maintain pure discipline, with no record of serious violations.
Unlike the Geshema degree, there is no written examination for the Khenmo title. Eligibility is based on education, years of service, leadership, and moral conduct.
A photo from Shugsep Nunnery in Tibet in 1998. After many Shugsep nuns escaped to India in the 1990s, the nunnery was re-established by the Tibetan Nuns Project near Dharamsala. Photo by Julie Brittain.
The 19 nuns being enthroned this year completed their Loponma studies between 2004 and 2022. Since then, they have fulfilled their required years of service: Some have taught Buddhist texts, some have managed administrative duties, some have guided study and revision programs for junior nuns.
Why This System is New for Nuns
Traditionally, only monks were enthroned as Khenpo. This was because the full nun ordination lineage (Gelongma) was not historically present in Tibet. Without full ordination, nuns could not receive the same monastic titles.
In recent decades, Tibetan Buddhist leaders recognized this historical gap and created a new system. Instead of requiring full Gelongma ordination, nuns who complete higher studies and long-term service can now be enthroned as Khenmo. This change opened the door for nuns to receive equal recognition as scholars and spiritual leaders.
On October 28 2022, Shugsep Nunnery and Institute held an important graduation ceremony in which Pharchin, Uma, and Lopon nuns were given their graduation certificates. As of 2023, 49 Shugsep nuns had attained the Lopon degree, equivalent to a Master’s degree – a remarkable achievement given the many obstacles on their path.
The Enthronement Ceremony
On January 29th, the Shugsep nuns welcomed Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche, the chief guest of the upcoming Khenmo Enthronement. They presented him with kataks, the Tibetan white scarves given as a sign of respect.
The ceremony will be led by Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche, who will serve as the chief guest and main preceptor for the enthronement. The event will include:
Traditional ritual prayers
White scarf (katak) offering ceremony
Attendance by dignitaries from monasteries, nunneries, and government departments
Each newly enthroned Khenmo will receive traditional gifts, including:
A ceremonial hat
A small Buddha statue
A pair of ritual vases
A mandala offering set
A container for the “three whites and three sweets”
A ritual bell and vajra
A new set of monastic robes
A Tibetan Buddhist nun holds a traditional bell and vajra (dorje), essential Tibetan Buddhist ritual items representing the inseparable union of wisdom and compassion. Photo by Olivier Adam.
Responsibilities After Enthronement
At present, there will be no replacement involved in this Khenmo enthronement. According to the nunnery’s administration, this ceremony is not filling a vacant position or replacing an existing Khenpo.
After receiving the Khenmo title, the nuns will take on greater responsibilities:
Some will continue teaching advanced Buddhist studies.
Some will lead administrative management of the nunnery.
Some will enter long-term retreat.
During major events, Khenmos will represent Shugsep Nunnery in religious gatherings and official functions.
Their role is not only scholarly, but also leadership and representation.
Impact on the Nunnery
This Khenmo enthronement will:
Strengthen leadership among nuns.
Raise educational standards in the nunnery.
Ensure self-sufficiency in teaching and training.
Inspire younger nuns to pursue higher studies.
Promote gender equality in Tibetan Buddhism.
Ani Ugyen Dolma
Ani Ugyen Dolma is a senior nun in her 50s, originally from Tibet. She belongs to Shugsep Nunnery in Tibet and was among the very first group of nuns to arrive in Shugsep Nunnery in India. She is one of the nuns who will be enthroned in February 2026.
Ani Ugyen Dolma is one of the nuns at Shugsep who will be enthroned as khenmo on February 18, 2026.
She first arrived in India in 1990, as part of the first batch of 22 nuns who came from Tibet to the new Shugsep Nunnery in exile. Since then, she has remained continuously involved in the growth and development of the nunnery, from its earliest days to the present.
In 2004, Ani Ugyen Dolma completed her Loponma degree, becoming part of the first-ever Loponma graduating batch at Shugsep Nunnery. That historic batch included eight nuns, marking the beginning of advanced Buddhist scholastic education for nuns at Shugsep.
From 2010 to 2017, she served as the Director of Shugsep Nunnery, taking responsibility for the administration, discipline, and overall management of the community.
After the nunnery later invited a Khenpo to strengthen higher Buddhist education in the nunnery, Ani Ugyen Dolma focused mainly on teaching and academic guidance. She has been:
Teaching Buddhist scriptures and philosophy
Guiding the studies of junior nuns
Supporting examination preparation and study programs
She continues to serve in this teaching role today.
Currently, Ani Ugyen Dolma is preparing to receive the Khenmo title in the upcoming enthronement ceremony. After enthronement, she plans either to enter a period of spiritual retreat or continue teaching and guiding nuns at Shugsep.
The Shugsep nuns story is one of perseverance, dedication, and hope. Many Shugsep nuns escaped from Tibet with nothing, not knowing how to read and write, traumatized in the prisons, beaten by the prison guards, and with many health problems. Shugsep Nunnery was re-established by the Tibetan Nuns Project in India. Photo of refugee nuns in 1991 by Susan Lirakis.
The primary difference between the Tibetan calendar and the Gregorian calendar is that the Tibetan calendar uses both the moon phases and solar cycles, whereas the Gregorian calendar uses only the sun.
The Tibetan calendar is thousands of years old and extremely complex. It is used in daily life to calculate the dates for religious holidays, various Buddhist offering ceremonies or tsog, and both auspicious and inauspicious days. It differs from the Gregorian calendar, which is the international standard used almost everywhere in the world for civil purposes. The Gregorian calendar modified the earlier Julian calendar, reducing the average year from 365.25 days to 365.2425 days and spacing leap years.
While the Gregorian calendar is a purely solar calendar, the Tibetan calendar (Tibetan: ལོ་ཐོ, Wylie: lo-tho) is a lunisolar calendar. This means that the Tibetan year has either 12 or 13 lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every two or three years so that an average Tibetan year is equal to the solar year.
Our 2026 calendar is available through our online store at tnp.org and all proceeds help provide education, food, shelter, clothing, and healthcare to Tibetan Buddhist nuns in India.
The Tibetan Calendar
In the traditional Tibetan calendar, each year is associated with three things: an animal, an element, and a number. For instance, the Tibetan year of the Fire Horse, 2153 begins on February 18, 2026. This is Losar, the Tibetan New Year.
The Tibetan calendar operates with a 60-year cycle of five elements and twelve animals. The animals in the Tibetan calendar are similar to those in the Chinese zodiac and are in the following order: Mouse, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Bird, Dog, and Boar. The five elements are in this order: Wood, Fire, Earth, Iron, and Water.
Here are some Losar offerings for Tibetan New Year. The nuns make elaborate butter sculptures of flowers and animals like this sheep, which corresponded to the animal associated with that year.
The 60-year Tibetan cycle is called Rabjung (Tib. རབ་བྱུང་). So each Tibetan year is properly identified by three parts. The first two, the Element and Animal, correspond roughly to similar identifiers used in the Chinese calendar. The third part is the Rabjung, the number of the 60-year cycle. The first year of the first Rabjung cycle started in 1027.
Tibetan New Year or Losar falls in either February or March, so each year of a Rabjung cycle spans two Western years. This is why each Tibetan Nuns Project calendar goes partway into the next Western year, to include Losar. Thus, our 2026 calendar spans from January 1, 2026, to the end of February 2027, to accommodate Losar which falls on February 7th in 2027 and marks the start of the Year of the Fire Sheep, 2154, according to the Tibetan calendar.
Here is one of the images from Tibetan Nuns Project 2026 calendar. Sales help to support the nunneries and nuns.
The Tibetan calendar and almanac entail five calendar features: the lunar weekday, the date of the lunar month, the moon’s constellation, the combination period, and the action period. The first two are also used to bring the lunar and solar calendars into harmony.
Each year, the Tibetan Nuns Project sells a wall calendar through our online store. Our 2026 Tibetan Nuns Project calendar is available for purchase. The cost is $13, and all proceeds go to support Tibetan Buddhist nuns at seven nunneries in northern India, as well as some nuns living on their own.
The Tibetan Nuns Project calendar was started over 20 years ago as a fundraising and friend-raising tool to help support hundreds of Tibetan Buddhist nuns at nunneries in northern India.
A selection of some of the early Tibetan Nuns Project charity calendars from 2002 to 2008. The Tibetan Nuns Project wall calendar is now full color and uses photos taken by the nuns themselves.
Each summer, the astrologers at the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute in Dharamsala (also known as Men-Tsee-Khang) supply us with the ritual and holy dates for the coming Tibetan year. It should be noted that the timings of the solstices and equinoxes in the calendar are based on north-eastern India where the nuns live, so they may be slightly different from where you are.
The Tibetan Nuns Project calendar uses almost exclusively photographs taken by the nuns themselves. These photographs provide an intimate insight into the daily lives and religious and cultural practices of the nuns.
The October 2026 image from Tibetan Nuns Project calendar. This photo was taken from Dorjee Zong Nunnery in Zanskar.
Throughout the year, the nunneries that we support send a selection of photos for possible inclusion in the upcoming calendar. Once all the photos are gathered together, we make a final selection. We try to balance the images, choosing at least one photograph from each nunnery. We select photographs that are windows into the nuns’ lives.
Each photo is captioned and paired with quotations from inspirational people, such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“It’s really exciting to open up emails from India and see the photos sent by the nuns for the calendar,” says Lisa Farmer, Executive Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project.
The proceeds from the sale of the Tibetan Nuns Project calendar are used to support approximately 900 Tibetan Buddhist nuns and seven nunneries in India. The calendar cost $13 plus shipping and is 6.5″ x 7″.
Here is a list of important Tibetan Buddhist holidays in 2026, plus other major dates in the Tibetan calendar.
The 2026 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 $13, 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 healthcare for approximately 900 Tibetan Buddhist nuns residing in northern India.
February 18, 2026: 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 18, 2026. According to the Tibetan calendar, it is the start of the year of the Fire Horse, 2153.
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 bid farewell to the old year and release themselves from all its negative or bad aspects. Part of this involves cleaning one’s home or room from top to bottom.
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 Tibetan prayer flags sold in our online store are made and blessed by Tibetan Buddhist nuns in India.
March 10 and March 12: Tibetan Uprising Day
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. It marks the 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 anniversary of the Tibetan Women’s Uprising. Following the National Uprising Day on March 10th, 1959, thousands of Tibetan women gathered in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa to demonstrate for Tibetan independence.
The most important month in the Tibetan calendar is Saga Dawa, the 4th lunar month, which runs this year from May 17 to June 15th, 2026. 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 2026, Saga Dawa Düchen is on May 31st.
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 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 waves to the crowd as he arrives at his 90th birthday celebration on July 6, 2025. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the patron of the Tibetan Nuns Project. Photo by Tenzin Choejor, OHHDL, dalailama.com
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 91. To mark His Holiness’s 90th birthday, the Central Tibetan Administration organized a year-long celebration running to July 5th, 2026.
Here’s a collage of some of the many ways that the nuns celebrated His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday in 2025.
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.
June 29, 2026: Universal Prayer Day
On Universal Prayer Day, nuns hold handfuls of tsampa, roasted barley flour, which they will throw into the air as part of the celebrations. In addition to prayers, the nuns also burn fragrant juniper boughs on this day. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.
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 June 29th, just before His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday on July 6th. It is a time for spiritual cleansing and Tibetans hang prayer flags and burn fragrant juniper boughs.
July 18, 2026: 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 1, 2026: Buddha’s Descent from Heaven
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 7, 2027: Losar (Tibetan New Year)
Tibetan Buddhist nuns offering at Losar Tibetan New Year. Photo by Olivier Adam
Losar in 2027 falls on February 7th and is the start of the Year of the Fire Sheep, 2154, according to the Tibetan calendar.
Keep Track with the 2026 Tibetan Nuns Project Calendar
You can order our 2026 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 also has inspirational quotes and, of course, beautiful photos taken by the nuns. It costs $13 and your purchase helps support around 900 Tibetan Buddhist nuns and seven nunneries in India. Thank you for your support!
Traditionally, Buddhist nuns have not had the same access to education as monks, but your generosity is changing that. We would like to extend a special thank you to everyone who sponsors a nun.
Here are photos showing recent academic competitions at Shugsep Nunnery and Institute, a nunnery built and fully supported by donors to the Tibetan Nuns Project.
Shugsep Annual Tibetan Grammar Competition Day
The nuns at Shugsep Nunnery held their annual Tibetan grammar competition in November. The preservation of Tibet’s unique language and culture remains one of the most critical areas of focus for Tibetans, both inside Tibet and in exile.
Events like this enhance the nuns’ knowledge of various subjects, boost their confidence, encourage creativity, strengthen their communication skills, and provide the nuns with valuable practice in expressing their ideas clearly.
The annual Tibetan grammar competition at Shugsep Nunnery. Tibet has its own language, including a unique alphabet and various written forms. Tibetan calligraphy is beautiful, and there are numerous Tibetan writing styles.
These types of competitions are held in various subjects and topics, depending on the class level. They help the nuns become more comfortable speaking and writing in front of others, and they build a healthy sense of discipline and motivation.
The idea for this competition originated at a staff meeting, when some teachers suggested holding regular activities to enhance the nuns’ overall knowledge and, most importantly, to help build their confidence.
On November 8th, the nunnnery held a Tibetan Language Skills competition that included poem writing and application for the higher grades. The competition had questions such as “Write down five different proverbs,” “What are the elements needed to complete a composition?” and other Tibetan grammar questions.
The Tibetan alphabet has 30 characters or letters and four vowels. Like English, it is written from left to right in horizontal lines. Tibetan writing may be broadly divided into two types: “headed”, called Uchen, and “headless”, called Umeh. These two forms of Tibetan script correspond roughly to printed and cursive writing.
For the younger students, the activities included a reading competition and a spelling exam, where students were asked to write specific names or words.
Around 50 nuns participated, except for those who had already completed their Loponma degrees, roughly equivalent to a master’s degree. A panel of teachers scored the competitions and awarded prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
Annual English Competition and The Alchemist
Here are some delightful photos taken by the nuns during the annual English competition held on December 6th at Shugsep. The event took place in the presence of Khenpo-la (the head of the nunnery) and all the teachers. They watched a lovely drama performed by the children and viewed many beautiful drawings created by the junior students.
It’s never easy standing up in front of your classmates, all your teachers, and your principal. It’s even more challenging when you have to speak a foreign language. Congratulations to all the nuns who took part in the annual English competition. The young nuns performed a drama.
The junior students created many beautiful drawings to reflect daily life at the nunnery and also the Year of Compassion, honouring the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Here are some of the drawings by the junior nuns at Shugsep. The nuns had to describe the images in English to the assembled crowd. This builds confidence and skills in English and public speaking. The picture on the left honors His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, and the middle picture is the “Four Harmonious Friends”, one of the Jataka tales of Buddhist mythology.
As part of the competition, the senior nuns wrote English poems and notices.
Shugsep is now home to about 100 nuns. The senior nuns are writing in front of their classmates and teachers as part of the annual English competition.
The nuns also spoke about the famous novel The Alchemist by Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho. The book’s main theme is about finding one’s destiny.
In this photo, two nuns are explaining the introduction of The Alchemist to the audience, highlighting the book’s strong and important vocabulary and philosophical concepts.
The Tibetan Nuns Project aims to elevate the educational standards and the position of women. As TNP’s Founding Director and Special Advisor Rinchen Khando Choegyal has said, “Educating women is powerful… It’s about enabling the nuns to be teachers in their own right and to take on leadership roles at a critical time in our nation’s history.”
