Photo by Ma Mingyan, a foreign friend watching the "yawn" ceremony
Huangzhong, March 1 (Yangji Dolma) On the 1st, the Qinghai Ancient Temple Taal Temple ushered in the New Year's Pilgrimage Season. At 1:00 p.m., in front of the nine halls of the Taal Temple, people were sitting around the white line that had been drawn long ago, waiting to watch the annual "yawn" blessing ceremony.
Located in the Lotus Mountain Pass of Lushar Town, Huangzhong County, Qinghai Province, Taal Monastery was founded in 1379 AD, the birthplace of the "second Buddha" Tsongkhapa, and is now one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, enjoying a high reputation in China and Southeast Asia. "Dancing" in Tibetan refers to the religious dharma dance "Qiangmu", which can be traced back to more than 280 years in Taal Monastery, and is an important religious ceremony for the purpose of dispelling evil spirits and praying for blessings.
Tibetan masses watching the "yawn" ceremony photographed by Ma Mingyan
It was time to eat, but the square in front of the Ninth Hall was already full of people, some carrying fruit to fill their hunger, and some people had already prepared food boxes, waiting for the ceremony to begin while eating. "My grandmother's name is An Zhuanghua, and she will soon be 80 years old, and we came here today to watch the blessing ceremony in the hope that my grandmother can add blessings and longevity." Gan Xianjin, a 27-year-old Turkish boy, said as he handed a bun to an old man in a black coat sitting in the corner.
In the other corner of the Nine Halls Square, 57-year-old Sandema is sorting out his chic ethnic costumes, "I am an Evenk, my home is in Horobel, and my son is the son-in-law of a collector in Qinghai." "Sundema said that during his visit to Qinghai, he had transformed monasteries large and small." For the safety and health of all those who are alive, I have come here to pray. ”
"Yawn" ceremony live performance Ma Mingyan photo
Zha Yuxia, who was dressed in outdoor clothes next to him, said excitedly: "I also came to pray for blessings, I was planning to see the festival on the fifteenth day of the first month, but I didn't expect that today I happened to catch up with this blessing." 50-year-old Zha Yuxia, who came from his hometown of Anhui on the twelfth day of the first month, came to Qinghai with his two daughters to pray for the New Year.
At 2 p.m., several monks dressed in lama red monks and wearing yellow hats blew a low, stretching trumpet on the roof next to the large prayer hall, and together they were accompanied by the rhythm of drums and cymbals, and the "yawn" ceremony officially began. During the ceremonial performance, someone folded his hands and prayed silently. Someone filmed with a mobile phone to record this sacred moment.
"The religious masses who worship taal monastery come not only from all over the country, but also from many ethnic groups such as Mongolians, Turks, Yugurs and Han chinese." Aka Gyaltsen of the Taal Monastery introduced that over the years, the Akkas of the Taal Monastery have used the form of temple music and dance, which is also to praise the harmonious relationship between various ethnic groups.
"When the Yushu earthquake occurred, people from many countries reached out to help, and today we are also praying for people all over the world, wishing everyone good health and world peace in the new year." Wenji Dolma, a 24-year-old girl from Yushu, said she came every year and her wish had never changed. (End)