Choekhor Duechen/Tugpai Tsezhi

Choekhor Duechen is a significant Buddhist festival celebrated in Tibet and other Tibetan Buddhist regions, marking the turning of the wheel of Dharma by Buddha Shakyamuni. The festival is observed on the 4th day of the 6th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, typically falling in July or August. It commemorates the day when Buddha, after attaining enlightenment, began teaching the Four Noble Truths at the Deer Park in Sarnath, India, thus initiating the Buddha’s teachings to humanity.

Choekhor Duechen is an occasion for Tibetans to renew their commitment to the Dharma and spiritual practice. The festival is marked by special prayers, meditations, and rituals in monasteries and homes, with many practitioners engaging in mantra recitations and offerings to accumulate merit.

Monasteries hold public prayers and sacred ceremonies, and pilgrims often visit sacred sites. It is a time of reflection, where people focus on the importance of Buddha’s teachings in bringing peace and spiritual insight.