The Fourth Gelug Monlam Festival at Nalanda

18 to 21 February 2027

Following Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy wish to bring the Monlam to the West, in February 2024, Nalanda Monastery initiated the tradition of the Gelug Monlam Festival in the West.

Come and join us for the fourth edition of this highly meaningful event!

You can also follow the session online.

Prayer texts

The prayers are made available thanks to the FPMT :

English version

Version française

In order to find your way during the prayer sessions, you can consult this chart :

English version

Version française

Learn to chant the prayers : for those interested, you can rehearse on your own using this link.

Celebrating 15 days of Miracles

Beginning on the first day of the Tibetan New Year (Losar), 18th February 2026, the “15 Days of Miracles” commemorate the historical moment during which Buddha Shakyamuni manifested numerous miracles in order to subjugate the six non-Buddhist masters and for his disciples to generate more faith in the Dharma.

The fifteenth day, Chötrul Duchen, corresponds to the day of the full moon, 3rd March 2026. It is a particularly auspicious day where merits are multiplied by 100 million. During these pêriod, monasteries organize the festival of great prayers or Monlam Chenmo. Lama Tsongkhapa himself initiated the first edition of this festival in the Gelug tradition in 1409.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche wanted to implement this practice of intense accumulation of merits in the West.

"The seed of Gelug Monlam in the West"

During the first Gelug Monlam Festival, we filmed interviews with our special guests and Geshes.

At the end of this page, you will also find the 5 episodes with five interviews.

Special guests participating in 2027

We are very honoured to welcome Khen Rinpoche Geshe Wangdu during these meritorious days of the Fourth Gelug Monlam. Khen Rinpoche already came at Nalanda for the last Chökhor Duchen (18/07/2026).

Khen Rinpoche Losang Wangdu is the former abbot of Gyudmed Tantric College. He is now the 103rd Abbot of Sed gyued Monastery (the first Gelugpa Tantric College) in East India. For nearly six centuries the teachings of Sed Gyued have passed directly from one great master to the next, never through recognized reincarnation, but through scholarship, tantric mastery, and unbroken guru devotion.
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Wangdu is an excellent monk and scholar, a kind and wise human being, very down to earth and accessible.
In teachings, the Late Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche who knew him well from Sera, referred to him on more than one occasion in praise of his guru devotion.

The list of our special guests will be updated as the festivities approach.

Registration is mandatory for the event

The event is free of charge and everybody is welcome! However, due to limited seats in the gompa (119), we need you to register. You will be assigned a seat number as first come first served.

Please register only if you are sure to come. Seats will also be available outside the gompa, in the “Zen Garden” on a big TV screen.

Food and lodging : Nalanda Monastery is offering food and lodging to monks and nuns. Lay people have to pay for their stay. Please consider a donation as this supports the stay and lodging of Sangha members.