The enthronement of the 20th Denma Gongsa Rinpoche

A grand temporary entrance was built specially for Denma Gonsa Rinpoche’s enthronement ceremony

People from all over Tibet, China, and other parts of the world travelled to Denma Monastery as early as one week before the enthronement date

Traditional Tibetan tents erected as a temporary living space. Being nomadic in nature, this was a very simple process for most Tibetans

Much credit has to be given to Denma Gonsa Rinpoche’s Labrang (personal household and office) who held the ceremony, for their organizational skills. Sangha members came from all over Tibet, to witness this historic occasion – the return of their lama, and the enthronement of his new incarnation

Cars queued for kilometres and kilometres, full of Dorje Shugden practitioners and devotees wishing to get a blessing from this holy lama

In the distance on the left is the yellow pavilion tent set up for Denma Gonsa Rinpoche

The authorities were aware of this event (as indicated by this police vehicle) and allowed the enthronement ceremony to take place

In the distance is Denma Gonsa Monastery. The monastery houses the world’s largest Tsongkhapa statue, at 101ft tall and the largest Dorje Shugden statue in Tibet, at 18ft tall. In his previous life, Denma Gonsa Rinpoche was a strong proponent of Dorje Shugden’s practice, a fact which clearly has not harmed or prevented his incarnation from returning

The monastery is no stranger to elaborate festivals like this. They had previously hosted a Grand Prayer Festival which was attended by 40,000 to 50,000 Dorje Shugden devotees and students of Denma Gonsa Rinpoche

The numbers of tents increase by the day, covering the field like a small city

The grandly decorated vehicle which will transport Denma Gonsa Rinpoche on enthronement day

Denma Gonsa Rinpoche with Gangchen Rinpoche. At such a young age and surrounded by so many people, his unperturbed, serious nature indicates this boy is not an ordinary being

Denma Gonsa Rinpoche makes his way to the monastery

Like many vehicles, the one pictured here bears an image of Denma Gonsa Rinpoche’s main protector, Dorje Shugden

Posters of the previous Denma Gonsa Rinpoche (left) and his heart practice, Dorje Shugden (right)

Massive crowds greet the reincarnation of Denma Gonsa Rinpoche as he toured the town

The entourage of Denma Gonsa Rinpoche, comprising over 150 cars. Wherever the cars went, crowds lined the streets hoping to capture a glimpse of their teacher who has returned

The lay people are all prepared to receive their Guru’s reincarnation

Tibetan men carry placards bearing the pictures of the previous Denma Gongsa Rinpoche (right) and Dorje Shugden (left) in joyful proclamation of their allegiance to their lama and protector

Denma Gonsa Rinpoche arrives in the monastery

Every available space is filled with a devotee trying to catch a glimpse of Denma Gonsa Rinpoche. Faith and guru devotion remains strong in this part of Tibet, and especially amongst Shugden practitioners. Clearly the CTA’s illogical ban and ridiculous edicts have no influence here

The crowd is cleared as Denma Gonsa Rinpoche’s vehicle approaches and the monks rush to lay out the carpet to welcome their lama

Thousands of people, both ordained and lay, greet Denma Gonsa Rinpoche. Notice the police presence in the foreground, providing protection for the young lama and crowd control. His security and personal safety was taken very seriously, considering his status as a Dorje Shugden lama

Denma Gonsa Rinpoche walks through the crowd (under the yellow parasol)

The crowd strain to catch a glimpse of their teacher who has returned to turn the wheel of Dharma

Lama Gangchen Rinpoche was also present for the enthronement ceremony

The young incarnation is invited back to the monastery with incense, khatas, traditional music and adulation as befitting a grand lama of his incarnation status

A mandala is offered directly to the young incarnation to create the cause for wealth and resources so that the lama can benefit many beings in the future

The young incarnation reads from old Tibetan texts easily, once again displaying openly that he is the unmistaken incarnation

Large portraits of the 10th Panchen Lama Gendun Chokyi Nyima (left) and the current 11th Panchen Lama Gyaincain Norbu (right) grace the prayer hall to represent the blessings of the lineage lamas

Denma Gonsa Rinpoche sitting on the throne prepared specially for Him

Gathering in the early morning for the enthronement ceremony

Crowds lined the road to greet their teacher

Crowds lined the road to greet their teacher

Crowds lined the road to greet their teacher

Crowds lined the road to greet their teacher

Crowds lined the road to greet their teacher

Many more placards held by many people declaring their undying faith and allegiance to the lama, Denma Gongsa Rinpoche (second from the left) and protector, Dorje Shugden (first, third, fourth and fifth from the left)

Denma Gonsa Rinpoche is ushered into the ceremonial location with traditional pomp and circumstance

Ordained and lay people come bearing khatas, offerings and statues like this Amitayus in a symbolic gesture of requesting him to live long and spread the Dharma far and wide

Many high lamas with close connections with Denma Gonsa Rinpoche were present, among them Lama Gangchen Rinpoche