By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, December 26: The celebration of the parinirvana of Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of Geluk (yellow hat sect) celebrated as ‘Ganden Ngamcho’, on December 23 and 24 saw a tightened security around Lhasa’s major temples and religious sites with scores of armed personnel keeping a close watch on the proceedings.
Beijing based Tibetan writer and poet Tsering Woeser shared photos of Chinese army and police stationed around a barricaded Ramoche Tsuglagkhang in Lhasa.
According to an RFA source, plain clothed Chinese officials were also deployed to keep an eye on the activities of Tibetans gathered with severe restrictions imposed on the movement of the Tibetans.
“The Tibetans who were there to offer their prayers and offerings were searched and restrictions on movements were tightened,” said the source.
Ganden Ngamcho is observed on the 25th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar to commemorate the demise of Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism and Ganden Monastery. Popularly known as Je Rinpoche, he was born in the Tsongkha region of Amdo in 1357.
Since His Holiness the Dalai Lama took part in a special prayer at Ganden Lachi Monastery in Mundgod, Karnataka where thousands of monks gathered to recite texts by Je Tsongkhapa.
