About Lhabab Duchen

About Lhabab Duchen

Lhabab Duchen is one of the four great holy days of Tibetan Buddhism. It falls on the twenty second day of the ninth Tibetan month, in October or November, and remembers the day the Buddha came back down to earth from the heaven of the thirty three gods.

The story says that the Buddha's mother, Queen Mahamaya, passed away soon after his birth and was reborn in heaven. Out of love for her, the Buddha went to the heaven and taught her the Dharma for three months. When he came back, his followers welcomed him with great joy, and he came down by a ladder of light.

On this day, Buddhists in Sikkim, Ladakh, Arunachal, Bhutan and Nepal visit monasteries, light rows of butter lamps, offer prayers and walk around stupas and temples. Many people do good deeds, give to the poor and avoid harming any living being, as merit made on this day is believed to be multiplied many times.

Lhabab Duchen is a public holiday in Sikkim, and monasteries such as the Tsuklakhang in Gangtok and Rumtek hold special prayers and offerings for the day.