When is Descending Day of Lord Buddha?
This Buddhist festival is a public holiday in Bhutan and the Indian state of Sikkim.
Also known as Lhabab Duchen is observed on the 22nd day of the ninth lunar month.
Traditions of Descending Day of Lord Buddha
The day marks the return of Lord Buddha to earth from the heavenly realm after three months of teaching.
On the sacred day of Lhabab Duchen, followers of Buddhism throng to monasteries to light butter lamps, burn incense and offer special prayers to Lord Buddha.
Monks and lamas spend the day reading the holy scriptures and purifying the air with their chanting of mantras.
An important highlight of this holy festival is marked by placing freshly painted ladders on the rocks by the monasteries to symbolize holy descent of Buddha from Trayastrimsa (The Heaven of Thirty Three).
