Beginning on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month of the Wood Snake Year, corresponding to February 9, 2026, at Palpung Sherabling Monastic Seat in India, the tulkus, lamas, khenpos, and the entire monastic community performed the extensive Gutor Mahakala ceremony day and night without interruption. The primary purpose of this ceremony was to invoke the glorious wisdom protector Mahakala, together with his consort Mahakali and retinue, to carry out enlightened activity for the benefit of the Buddha’s teachings of all traditions and for all sentient beings.

Guru Vajradhara His Holiness Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa and Jetsün Pema, sister of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, graced the sacred dances with their presence. On the 15th, the preliminary Gutor Mahakala vajra dances that bring liberation upon seeing were performed without masks.

On the 16th, the Hon’ble Sonam Lama, Ecclesiastical Minister of Sikkim, joined the occasion as a special guest, and the main masked sacred dances were conducted. In the afternoon, the ritual for averting obstacles took place, including the casting out of the torma and the performance of a supplementary fire offering ritual.

On the 17th, the Wood Snake year's Grand Gutor Mahakala Puja was brought to an auspicious conclusion through the ritual for receiving siddhis and a ganachakra feast.

Photos