Galdan Namchot

Galdan Namchot is a festival celebrated in Tibet, Mongolia and many regions of Himalaya and particularly in Ladakh, India. It is to commemorate the birth as well as parinirvana (death) and the Buddhahood of Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419 AD), a famous Scholar/teacher of Tibetan Buddhism whose activities led to the formation of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Galdan Namchot also marks the beginning of the new year celebrations in Ladakh.

Galdan Namchot
Leh Palace lit in night on Galdan Namchot, 2016
Observed by	Buddhists
Type	Religious festival New year Commemoration
Significance	Commemorate the birth and parinirvana (death) of Je Tsongkhapa and marking of beginning of Ladakhi new year
Begins	December
Ends	December
Date	25th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar.
2019 date	21 December
2020 date	10 December
Frequency	Annual
Related to	Losar, Chinese New Year, Japanese New Year, Mongolian New Year, Korean New Year, Vietnamese New Year

History

Je Tsongkhapa was born in the city of Tsongkha in Amdo, Tibet (present-day Haidong and Xining, Qinghai) in 1357. He was a famous teacher of Tibetan Buddhism whose activities led to the formation of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.[1] On the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, Galdan Namchot is celebrated to commemorate birthday and Buddhahood of Je Tsongkhapa. Galdan Namchot also marks the beginning of the new year (which falls after five days of the Galdan Namchot festival and continues till the Dosmoche festival in February).[2][3]

Ladkahi's follow the Tibetan lunar calendar. Historically Losar, thereby Galdan Namchot were celebrated in the twelfth month in the Tibetan lunar calendar. Owing to a war in Skardu during reign of Raja Jamyang Namgyal (1595–1616 AD), Ladakh started celebrating Losar two months before in the tenth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar.[2]

Celebrations

As a part of the Galdan Namchot festival, monasteries, public and residential buildings are lit up.[2] Butter lamps are also lit up which symbolizes the annihilation of darkness.[2] Traditional dishes such as Thukpa, Momo and Butter tea is prepared and served in households. Khatak, a traditional ceremonial scarf is gifted by Ladakhi people.[4][5]

Schedule

Since Ladakh follows the Tibetan lunar calendar and Galdan Namchot festival comes on the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month Tibetan calendar, every year the festival falls on different dates of the Gregorian calendar.[2][6]

Year	Date
2012	8 December
2013	23 December
2014	16 December
2015	5 December
2016	23 December
2017	12 December
2018	2 December
2019	21 December
2020	10 December

See also

• Losar

References

1. Heart Jewel: The Essential Practices of Kadampa Buddhism, p. 3, Tharpa Publications (2nd. ed., 1997) ISBN 978-0-948006-56-2
2. "Welcoming the New Year". rechladakh.com. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
3. "Tsongkhapa's Birthday and Buddhahood". aryabhatt.com. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
4. "Galdan Namchot Festival". lehladakhindia.com. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
5. "Galdan Namchot Festival 2013". lehladakhtoursindia.com. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
6. "Calendar of Monastic festival". Leh official website. Retrieved 25 December 2016.