About 800 monks and lamas from all over India and also from Tibet and Nepal celebrated Buddha Purnima in Delhi under the guidance of His Holiness, 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje, spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism on Thursday, May 27. This year the date of the Buddha Purnima as per the Hindu calendar has coincided with that of the Tibetan calendar and this has happened for the first time according to the South Asia Buddhist Association. An association member said, “This makes the day very auspicious. This is why monks and lamas from all over the country, and Nepal and Tibet gather here to offer prayers and perform ceremonial practices.”

To mark the end of this year’s KIBI term, a weeklong programme of teachings and initiations took place at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute, and many devotees from around the […]

During the weeks preceding the event preparations were in full swing: scaffolding went up everywhere, a small host of artists were busy redoing the painting work inside the temple under the direction of Denzong Norbu-la, a great Tibetan painter, and all the outer facades, both of the main building and the surrounding residential complex were completely renovated and repainted.

Once again this year, between November 27 and December 3, the Kagyu Monlam was held at the holy site of Bodh Gaya. Approximately 5,000 practitioners gathered to join in this outstanding event.