The Tibetan New Year Celebration at the monastery begins with the monks gathering together at the monastic prayer hall. Special prayers are said at the gathering and the breakfast is served at the prayer gathering. There is a tradition of visiting the Lamas or the spiritual masters on the first day of the New Year, and it still continues to this day. The first day of the Tibetan New Year is sometimes referred to as the New Year of the Lama. All of the monks woke up early in the morning at 4:00 am wearing new clothes and gather at the main prayer hall. Chanting master leads the prayer concluded with the prayer for all the living beings. After the completion of prayer sessions the Rinpochens, Scholars, Geshe, and all the monks took blessings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama by standing in front of his picture and offers a white scarf on his throne. There shall be an official function to celebrate our New Year for three to four days organized by the administration.
With the completion of prayers and wishes to higher lamas and scholars in the main prayer hall, All monks return to his resident and wish his teachers, family and hostel mates most of the celebrations and gatherings took place at each of the hostels of their own style. There is a tradition to visit friends and colleagues’ home and wishes for each other.
After the celebration of Tibetan New Year for three days, the butter lantern festival falls on the 15th day of the first Tibetan Lunar month. During day time people come to pray at the monastery while at night there is a lantern show. Various lanterns with butter sculptures shaped in the image of deities, animals, plants and human figures are displayed. This attracts the people from the neighbors who appreciate them too. There is also a Tibetan Cultural Show by the local people and students. The program gives great joy to participants and viewers throughout the night.
