The Third Gelug Monlam Festival at Nalanda
28 February - 4 March 2026
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 third edition of this highly meaningful event!
- 28 February- 4 March, 2026
- Nalanda Monastery (France)
- In Tibetan, English & French
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 when Buddha Shakyamuni manifested numerous miracles to subdue the six non-Buddhist masters who challenged him and which strengthened his disciples’ faith in the Dharma.
The fifteenth day, Chötrul Düchen, falls on a day of the full moon, 3rd March 2026. It is a particularly auspicious day where merits are multiplied by 100 million. During these period, 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.
It was Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wish to initiate such a 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. You can watch the film here!
At the end of this page, you will also find the 5 episodes composed of the five interviews.
Special Guests Participating this year
The Ganden Tripa, the head of the Gelug order, is not a reincarnation lineage but is rather appointed once every 7 years, from alternatively one of the two Choejes or “Dharma Masters”: the former abbot of Gyume Monastery become the Jangtse Choeje while the former abbot of Gyuto Monastery become the Sharpa Choeje.
Therefore Kyabje Sharpa Choeje Rinpoche Ngawang Jorden should become the 107th Ganden Tripa in some years.
Ven. Ngawang Nyima
Ven. Lobsang Tenphe
Geshe Tsultrim Sherab-la, a chanting leader (umze) from Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, has very kindly accepted to come to lead this Third Gelug Monlam with us.
The list of our special guests will be updated as we go along.
Debates during Monlam
We are considering initiating a 30-minute session of debate every morning. More details to come!
Previous Gelug Monlam at Nalanda
Nalanda’s Sangha and guests during the first Gelug Monlam in 2024.
Nalanda’s Sangha and guests during the second Gelug Monlam in 2025.
Registration is mandatory
The event is free of charge, everybody is welcome! But due to limited seats in the gompa (119), we need your registration. You will be given a seat number according to the date of your registration.
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. You can also make offerings to support the stay of the Sangha.
The Maitreya procession during Nalanda’s first Gelug Monlam (picture by Sonam Sherpa).
Donations are Welcome
If you wish to accumulate merits by participating in the care of the Sangha during the Monlam, including the travelling costs of our special guests, you can make offerings here specifying “Monlam 2025”.
Your generosity will help ensure the success of this event. For every donation of €100 or more, your name will be added to the list of dedications that will be read at the end of the last session.
Program
You will find and download the day-to-day schedule here soon:
English version
French version
Prayer Texts
Learn to chant the prayers: For those who are interested, you can rehearse the chanting of the prayers on your own using this link.
Live streams