Sera Bengqin Festival falls on the 27th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan Calendar

Sera Bengqin Festival usually falls on the 27th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan Calendar. It is a grand and sacred festival that will be taken place in Sera Monastery before the Tibetan New Year. This will be perfect timing for pilgrims in Tibet to enjoy the festival atmosphere in advance. During the celebration, pilgrims will get blessings from the Buddhas after being touched by the Vajra Pestle.

Sera Bengqin Festival

It is said that the Vajra Pestle was brought to Tibet from India at the end of the 15th century. Then it was shrined into the Buddhist Guardian Hall of the Sera Monastery on Dec. 27 that year. After that, the eminent monk in Sera Monastery will hold the Vajra Pestle and hit the head of monks in Sera Monastery and pilgrims from all over Tibet to allow them to get the blessings from Buddhas and protectors.

On this day, monks and pilgrims will line up outside the Sera Monastery and wait for the beginning of the celebration. With traditional white Hada scarves in hand, they will march slowly in a line to get touched by the Vajra Pestle one by one. They all believe that it will bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits if this religious instrument can hit their heads on this day. This festival will last a day to make sure that all Buddhism believers can be blessed.