The Second Gelug Monlam Festival at Nalanda
11 - 15 March 2025
Following Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy wish to bring the Monlam to the West, last February, Nalanda Monastery initiated the tradition of the Gelug Monlam Festival in the West.
Come and join us for the second edition of this historical event!
- 11 - 15 March, 2025
- Nalanda Monastery (France)
- In Tibetan, English & French
Nalanda’s main gompa during the first Gelug Monlam in 2024 (picture by Sonam Sherpa).
Special Guests Participating
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi, abbot of Kopan Monastery.
Program: coming soon!
As the gompa has limited spaces (119), seats will also be available outside the gompa.
Prayer Texts
Live streams
The Maitreya procession during Nalanda’s first Gelug Monlam (picture by Sonam Sherpa).
Watch the films!
Last year, during the first Gelug Monlam Festival, we filmed interviews with our special guests and Geshes. Each month before the Secong Gelug Monlam Festival, we will put online a new episode of these interviews. You can already discover the first episode, an interview of Venerable Roger!
Stay tuned for the next four episodes:
Episode 2 – “I can see this happening” Geshe Jamphel Gyaltsen, teacher resident at Nalanda Monastery
Episode 3 – “We pray in similar way as Lama Tsongkhapa” Geshe Losang Jamphel, abbot of Nalanda Monastery
Episode 4 – “I’m quite happy to have come here!” Ven. Genden Dargey, Chant leader
Episode 5 – “To repay the kindness of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.” Ven. Geshe Thubten Sonam from Sera Jey Monastery
There will also be a full final version, The Seed of the Gelug Monlam in the West.
Celebrating 15 days of Miracles
Beginning on the first day of the Tibetan New Year (Losar), February 28, 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, Chötrol Duchen, corresponds to the day of the full moon, March 14. It is a particularly auspicious day where merits are multiplied by 100 million. During these two weeks, monasteries organize the festival of great prayers: 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. This is why we have organized the first traditional Gelug Monlam in France last February 2024.
Invitation to the Sangha
The monastery invites several Western monks and nuns by offering them accommodation and food (sometimes travel).
Nalanda’s Sangha and guests during the first Gelug Monlam in 2024 (picture by Sonam Sherpa).
Accommodation and Lunch
Everyone is welcome! Please sign up using the Sangha or Lay registration form:
For the ordained Sangha please register here (coming soon!)
For lay people please register here (coming soon!)
Donations are Welcome
If you wish to accumulate merits by participating in the care of the Sangha during the Monlam, you can make offerings here specifying “Monlam 2025”.
Your generosity will help to ensure the success of this event, and your name will be added to the list of dedications that will be read each of the five days.
See you There!
See you soon to share this special moment with you!
EN 
FR 
ES