The annual ceremonies and sacred dances are continuing in Shechen Monastery Nepal just like they did every year since the time of the previous Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

Starting in January, after their annual exams, the monks have been on a non-stop schedule:

Drupchens: Yamantaka (before Losar), Minling Dorsem ,and Tsokchen Duepa (both with the four Ka’ma drupchos performed at the same time). Each of the drupchens has its own preparations, sacred dances, sand mandalas, and fire pujas.

As our friend Lucy Needham wrote: “The Shechen monks are fantastic. This year, every one of them has really stepped up. What great work they have done from earthquake relief to studies, to attending the Nyingma Monlam in India, and now these perfect drupchens. Amazing!”

Of course, the main temple is not usable and the temple walls are in the process of being taken down and rebuilt. But the monks are finding makeshift locations for the pujas like under a large tent in the “basketball court” and in the dining room.

They magically were even able to hide much of the mess from the restoration work so that the dances could be performed. And more to come in March!

Thank you to our monk photographers Kelsang Namgyal and Tenzin Rikksang, for the beautiful photos.