Monlam= Prayer Festival (4th-11th day of the 1st lunar month)

This is the greatest religious festivals in Tibet. Instituted by Tsongkpa in 1409, the founder of the Gelukpa sect. Monks from the Three Great Monastery of Tibet assemble in Jokhang for prayer to Shakyamuni`s image as if it is were the living Buddha. Philosophizes. Pilgrims come from every corner of Tibet and donations are offered to the monks.

'Monlam' means 'Prayer' and at monasteries a great Buddhist service is held and 'Cham' (Buddhist dances) are performed. According to the legend, in the first month of the year, Buddha conquered or converted six holy men of false religions. From New Year's day until the end of 'Monlam', people continue to eat, drink and make merry.

The Monlam Festival, lasting from the first to the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year, is the largest religious gathering in Tibet. Tsongkhapa, founder of the Yellow Sect introduced the festival, in 1409, During the festival, lamas from the three Largest monasteries gather in the Jokhang, reciting scriptures and attending an examination for the Gexi degree.

The dates of the Great Prayer Festival (Smom-lam) varies. For the three great Monasteries of Lhasa, it is from the 4th to the 25th day in the first month. For Taer (Ku-bum in Tibetan, i.e., ten thousands images of Buddha) Monastery, it is form the 8th to the 15th day of the first month. For Labrang Monastery, it is from the the 3rd to the 17th day of the first month.

This is the greatest religious activity for the whole year. The Monasteries will conduct scripture chanting, show the giant Buddha Thangkas, and perform mask Tibetan opera. The people will gather together to enjoy the shows, participate in the worshiping in the nearby Monasteries. Some will even prostrate step by step all the way to Lhasa.

In Lhasa, an offering carefully crafted from butter and over 10m-high was put in the Jokhang Temple, where most of the monks from the monasteries around Lhasa would gather and hold the 'Monlam Chenmo' or 'Great Prayer Festival'. This festival was banned during the Cultural Revolution and although it was revived once in 1985, it has was once again prohibited in 1990, maybe because the festival encourages Tibetan identity too strongly.