Dolpo, experience of a lifetime

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Guru Rinpoche

Puja ceremony at Buddha Ribo monastery in Do Tharap

Buddha Ribo Festival in Dho Tarap in Dolpo

Buddha Ribo Festival in Dho Tarap, Dolpo

Dolpo Dho-Tarap Festival -program-

Introduction of Buddha Ribo

Buddha Ribo hill is believed to have blessed and consecrated by Guru Rinpoche and is further blessed and consecrated by many great scholars and founding fathers of Dolpo viz; Kunkhen Dolpo-pa, Ngari Pema Wangyal, Kathok Tsewang Norbu, Shakyab Chogdruk Rangdol and Gagar Rinpoche. Embodiment of holy and symbols or relics of all these great lamas can be seen and whosoever see, hear, touch can have immense spiritual beneficial.

Out of many places Guru Rinpoche visited in Dolpo, Phoksumdho Lake is one of them and the lake was said to have blessed by Him dispelling all the evil spirits surrounding the lake.

The Buddha Ribo Festival is celebrated every 12 years in Dho Tarap Valley of the remote Dolpo District of Nepal.Pilgrims and visitors from neighbouring communities and districts come to participate and share their customs. It is a wonderful opportunity for them to renew old friendships and bonds. Youths get a chance to experience the rich tapestry which is their inherited culture and show off their performing skills to their elders and peers.

This 12th year’s celebration of Buddha Ribo Festival assume special significance as His Holiness The Rabjam Rinpoche, the supreme head Nyinmapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, will visit Dho-Tarap, Dolpo in 2011.At Ribo Gonpa, His Holiness will give empowerment on Kunchok Chedhos and Jachon podrub to all the monk and lay devotees. Beside His Holiness will acknowledge and preside on enthronement ceremony of Dolpo Gagar Tulku at Gagar Gonpa and consecration of stupas (chortens) at Jampa Gonpa. Herbal plantation ceremony by His Holiness will be held at Dolpo Mentsekhang on its 10th anniversary of inception. His Holiness will visit Crystal Mountain School, the only school in Tarap, patronized by Action Dolpo, France.

Tourists and locals alike are enthralled by the horsemanship shown during the horse races, and the pride and artistic skills shown during dances such as masked dances, the sky burial dance, lama dances and dances performed by members of different communities and schools. Tourists will also be able to meet members of different local communities, visit the local school and local Mentsi Khang or Amchi Medical Centre and School and met experienced and trainee Tibetan doctors (Amchi).

Pilgrims can be seen prostrating as they circumambulate round the sacred Buddha Ribo or mountain, a feat that takes seven days. Tourists will be able to witness pilgrims from many communities, who will not only be visiting Dho Tarap during this festival but will be arriving and departing throughout the year as the next Buddha Ribo Festival is more meaningful than usual.

Enthronement

Scheduled for September 2011, the next festival will, as mentioned, be even more auspicious as the 7th reincarnation of Gakar Rimpoche will travel to Dolpo for the first time to be enthroned. His Holiness Shechen Rabjam Rimpoche (from Shechen Monastery in Kathmandu) will be leading the enthronement ceremony as well as inaugurating the festival.

6th Gagar Rinpoche of Dho Tarap in Dolpo

The year that the 6th Gakar Rimpoche died saw a rare very heavy snowfall in Dolpo. Just a few days before passing away he conducted a puja in the house of what was to be his 7th reincarnation’s parents. Signs that Gakar Rinpoche was a truly remarkable man. On his passing, his body stayed in thukdam (meditative position) for 13 days – sign of accomplishing enlightenment.

When the 6th Gakar Rimpoche first met HH Dilgo Khyentse Rimpoche and firm bond was established that lasted throughout their lives and continues still. Indeed, it was His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rimpoche who recognised the 7th reincarnation shortly before his own death. Today the bond continues as the 7th Gakar Rimpoche and HH Dilgo Khyentse’s reincarnation, are being trained together in Bhutan.

7th Gakar Rinpoche of Dho Tarap in Dolpo

During the forthcoming Buddha Ribo Festival the 7th reincarnation of Gakar Rinpoche will be enthroned amidst splendour, humility and joy. Once again people will be able to pay respect to one of the most respected masters from Dolpo. 7th Gakar Rinpoche with father and mother

Born in 1991 in Mukot Village, Dolpo the 7th Gakar Rimpoche was taken to Kathmandu on a pilgrimage by his parents when he was six months old. There HH Dilgo Khyentse Rimpoche stated he was a very special boy and gave him the name Rigzin Wangdu. Educated at home by his grandfather, himself a great master, Rigzin Wangdu came to Shechen Monastery in Kathmandu when he was eight to start his studies as a monk.

Around the same time, 1999, Amchi Lama Namgyal Rimpoche and cousin of Gagar Rinpoche Lama Chudub were asked to lead the search for the reincarnation of Gakar Rimpoche. Himself a relative of the former Gakar Rimpoche, Amchi Lama Namgyal Rimpoche was finally, in 2004, given a recognition letter specifying details of the reincarnation by HH Trulshik Rimpoche, the Supreme Head of Nyingma School. Delighted to find the boy was already a monk at Shechen Monastery, the group meet Rigzin Wangdu who treated them with great kindness and respect, just like his former incarnations.

Today the 7th Gakar Rimpoche is being trained in Bhutan and after his enthronement in Dolpo, will return to Bhutan to finish his training before finally taking up his seat in Dolpo in the future. The enthronement of Gakar Rimpoche is a great occasion for the people of Dolpo, who will benefit from an increase in Dharma, as will all sentient beings.

Info: dolpoinfo@gmail.com