The
three-day celebrations of Mani Rimdu follow
the ten days of non-stop prayer sessions
addressed to the patron deities seeking
blessing from the god of all mankind.
The deity propitiated is Guru Rinpoche,
the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The ceremony
begins with the blowing of horns in the
afternoon after which the abbot of the
monastery accompanied by other monks chant
prayers. The congregation is blessed and
given holy water and auspicious pellets
for good luck and longevity. An orchestra
of cymbals, horns, flutes, and conch hells
announces the start of the second day's
celebrations. Monks in colorful robes
and huge glowering masks perform dances
symbolizing the destruction of evil. On
the last day, tormas (figures made of
dough) are consigned to a sacred fire.
This implies the end of negative forces
and the advent of a blessed new year. |
