Considered the most important event for Tibetan Buddhists, the Monlam great prayer festival starts three days after the lunar new year in western China’s ethnic Tibetan region and is held for almost two weeks. During Monlam, millions of pilgrims travel to monasteries to pray for good fortune in the new year and make offerings to their late relatives.

Top: Monks from Labrang monastery in Xiahe county. Above: A girl throws symbolic papers for good fortune on a hill overlooking Labrang monastery during Monlam

One of the most popular destinations for pilgrims is Labrang monastery in Xiahe county, Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Gansu province. The monastery, founded in 1709, is one of the six largest monasteries of the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism and is home to thousands of monks.



Monks and worshippers attend the prayer festival at Labrang monastery

The festival’s main events are held on the last days. First comes the ceremony of “unveiling the Buddha”, during which Tibetan Buddhist monks carry a 30-metre by 20-metre thangka (a sacred painting on cloth) depicting Buddha up the hillside above Labrang monastery to show it to the thousands of worshippers.

The monks unfurl the thangka depicting Buddha to display to worshippers and other visitors during the festival



The next day, monks costumed as deities and Dharma protectors perform the Cham dance. With slow and repetitive movements, the hours-long ritual is performed for the destruction of bad spirits and the greater good of humanity. Devout Buddhists use this dance to meditate and spiritually connect with the portrayed deities. After this, everyone joins a huge procession.

Pilgrims and worshippers carry prayer beads and prayer wheels

The monks walk in a procession around the monastery



In the evening of the next day, all monks and pilgrims travel to see sculptures made of yak butter by Tibetan Buddhist monks that traditionally represent an offering to Buddha and deities.

Pilgrims walk on a circuit of the monastery

On the last day of the festival, a final procession is held, when Tibetan Buddhist monks carrying a statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha, make the Kora (pilgrimage circuit) around Labrang monastery together with thousands of pilgrims.

A hilltop view overlooking Labrang monastery

Although the Chinese Communist party is atheist, it recognises five religions, including Buddhism, alongside many folk beliefs. Most ethnic Tibetans practise Tibetan Buddhism, which is a distinct form of Buddhism.

The light of a giant television screen, showing a ceremony featuring sculptures made from yak butter, illuminates the scene