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View to original YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RudbNcMxTcQ

Chogdong Monastery (or Chagdrung Monastery) in Kham, Tibet celebrated their 9th Annual Monlam Chenmo festival in July 2014.

The festivities centered around a vast open plain, with huge tents erected to accommodate the thousands of monks and lay people who gathered to celebrate this auspicious occasion.

This particular event was organized by H.E. Nyedru Rinpoche, a close student of the previous Denma Gonsa Rinpoche. Through his hard work and dedication in spreading and upholding the lineage and practices entrusted to him by his teacher, Nyedru Rinpoche is widely regarded as an important and respected Dorje Shugden lama in his district of Yushu (or Yulshul), Tibet.

The Monlam Chenmo Festival or “Great Prayer Festival” was established by Lama Tsongkapa in 1409, to commemorate Shakyamuni Buddha’s performance of miracles in Shravasti. Commonly known as the third of Lama Tsongkapa’s four great deeds, Monlam Chenmo celebrations have been observed every year since, to pray for the long life of attained masters from all traditions, for the growth of Dharma in the minds of all sentient beings, and for world peace.

As seen from the images below, Monlam Chenmo is still traditionally practiced and upheld in a grand manner in Tibet. The occasion is marked by extensive communal offerings by both ordained and lay people, to overcome obstacles to peace and generate conducive conditions for all to live in harmony. Recently, another grand Monlam Chenmo celebration was also held in Chatreng, with over 400,000 Dorje Shugden practitioners gathering in Trijang Rinpoche’s Sampheling Monastery. Undoubtedly, Dorje Shugden practitioners make up a significant segment of the Gelugpa tradition, despite the efforts of the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration to claim otherwise.

We at DorjeShugden.net rejoice in the strong faith and loyalty that the people of Tibet have for high lamas such as H.H. Trijang Rinpoche, H.E. Denma Gonsa Rinpoche, Nyedru Rinpoche and many more who are tirelessly turning the wheel of Dharma for the sake of all sentient beings. May the pure teachings and practices of the Gelug tradition live on and soar to greater heights.

Massive tents were erected around the monastery to accommodate the many people that traveled from great distances for the celebration

Tens of thousands gathered for this blessed occasion

Bountiful offerings made during Chogdong Monastery’s Monlam Chenmo festivities

H.E. Nyedru Rinpoche (right) with his teacher, the previous Denma Gonsa Rinpoche (left)

H.E. Nyedru Rinpoche (right) with the current incarnation of Denma Gonsa Rinpoche, the 19th of his lineage (centre)