The Karmapa's Birthday: The Set-up / The Morning

June 26th was the Karmapa's birthday, and though he could not be at Rumtek (and presumably had his own celebrations down in Dharamsala), the monks and laypeople of the Rumtek community celebrated up here in Sikkim.

The day was long, and very full, so I'm breaking it into several posts. This first post is restricted to the time up until the really exciting stuff...but I wanted to bring you guys in on the whole day.

Things started the day before, with flags and banners going up all over the place.

(the Tibetan says བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལེགས་ trashi de lek, 'greetings / good luck')

(a tent set up to feed lunch to the lay people coming to celebrate the next day)

Like with the lama dance day, many people came in traditional dress. 

(one of my friends in the lay community, who organized much of the day, dressed in Tibetan finery)

(a lot of people tossed coins onto the top of this pillar, which tells the story of the founding of the monastery)

(the giant poster is a recent picture of the Karmapa; the smoke rising behind it was a smoke offering of burning juniper, kept burning all day)

A lot of important people came, though I don't know who any of them are. I knew who the important ones were, however, because most of them were conveniently wearing pins.

(a monk with a gong, specially hung for the day)

The first event of the day was a puja by the monks in the main hall, followed by presentation of katag (ceremonial scarves) to the throne of the Karmapa. Were he present, the scarves would have been presented directly to him, but Tibetan Buddhism holds that offerings made in someone's absence are just as effective.

(the monks and laypeople waiting to present scarves to the throne)

My friends thought that I should be a little more dressed up, so the secretary lent me a chupa (a traditional Tibetan garment worn by men). The whole front is draped to become a pocket.

(I'm wearing hiking boots because they are the only close-toed shoes I have here...)

Following the presentation to the throne, everyone in attendance, monk, layperson, and tourist alike was given Tibetan tea and saffron rice.

(this time I got a little paper dish, much easier to eat out of without silverware than my porcelain bowl from last time...)

Then it was lunchtime! There was food in the tent (above) for any who wished, and in a small hall in the monastery for the VIPs,

(there were some impressive things done with streamers up in there)

(delicious! also, you can see the Karmapa's seat, with a picture of him, at the back of the room)

After lunch, there was more prayer by the monks of the monastery, and last minute organizing for the performances of the afternoon. 

(after making a little fun, this monk expertly dodges away from possible retribution)

(the two laypeople sitting in this photo, my friend from before and the secretary of the shedra, handled most of the organizing for the event, and even up to these last minutes were arranging the order of performances)

(food being brought into the monks in the prayer hall)

(the monk manning the sound system)

After the puja finished, I wandered into the prayer hall to take a look around for you guys.

(all of the katag piled on the Karmapa's throne)

(ritual cakes, and other offerings)

The morning was pretty slow and relatively laid back. The performances, however, both at the big event during the day, then at the smaller one held mostly for the monks later in the evening, were pretty fantastic. Traditional dances from multiple cultures, songs, skits by adorable small children, 'Gangnam Style'... All that and more are coming up. So make sure to come back!