Lhabab Duisen is celebrated on the 22nd day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar (October — November) and is dedicated to the descent of Buddha Shakyamuni from the sky of Tushit for his last rebirth on earth.
According to legend, before acquiring the last earthly incarnation, Shakyamuni Buddha was in the sky of Tushita (tib. Ganden, lit. «Garden of Joy»). Tushita — fourth heaven, where all bodhisattvas live before they become Buddhas. In order to be reincarnated in this sky, it is necessary to develop the Four Immeasurable States of the Awakened Mind – Holy Love, Compassion, Joy and Impartiality. This is the Heaven of caring beings, even if they still have sensual desires.
It is believed that Shakyamuni Buddha was reborn in this World as a Teacher named Shvetaketu and preached the Teaching (Dharma) to the celestials and his mother.
While living as a bodhisattva in the realm of happy celestials, Shakyamuni Buddha realized that he needed to make a final rebirth among the people on earth in the well-known image of Prince Siddhartha Gautama. Descending from the skies of Tushita into the world of people, Shakyamuni placed his crown on the head of the Buddha of the Coming Maitreya, who is currently preaching the Teaching to the gods there and is waiting for the time when he can descend to earth.
Meanwhile, the Buddha, having found earthly birth, after 29 years of a happy life in the palace, went in search of the truth, at the age of 35 he discovered it for himself, sitting under a bodhi tree, became enlightened, that is, a Buddha, and began to preach the Teaching.
The Buddha's decision to find his last earthly birth and open the « path of Buddha» — to everyone is the main idea of this holiday.
In some countries, Lhabab Duisen celebrations last almost a whole month. Lamps and candles are lit inside and around the temples and prayer services (khuralas) are held, which complete solemn processions and processions.
In Theravada Buddhist countries, the Feast of Lights marks the end of monastic solitude during the rainy season (Vassa) and is dedicated to the descent of the Buddha from the heavens of Trayastrinsa.
Lamps and candles are lit in and around temples and prayer services are held (Photo: SasinT, licensed from Shutterstock.com)
Rites and ceremonies are held in all temples and monasteries to celebrate this holiday, as well as the departure from the monastic community (Sangha) of those who joined it during the rainy season. On the night of the full moon, city squares, streets, houses, temples and stupas are illuminated by burning candles, oil lamps and light bulbs. In some monasteries, statues of the Buddha are removed from high pedestals to the sounds of wind instruments and, accompanied by a procession of monks, taken through the streets, symbolizing with this action the descent of the Buddha to Earth.
The holiday ends with the Kathina ceremony (Sanskrit. «clothing») — giving clothes to members of the Sangha, which is held in all monasteries. In many areas, gifts to members of the Sangha are given in turn: for this purpose, yellow flags are hung in monasteries, indicating that they are used to read sacred texts, which accompanies the Kathina ceremony. Some lay people participate in several kathin ceremonies, seeking to gain as much merit as possible in this way.
A characteristic element of this holiday is the offering to the spirits of rivers (the Master of the Water): lit candles are installed on special trays, coins and food are placed, and then these trays are launched along the river. This offering is accompanied by a festive procession with fireworks, drumming and gong strikes.