Kagyu Pavillion,
3 January 2026
The morning began at 9.00am with an introduction given from the stage in Tibetan by Khenpo Kalsang Nyima and in English by Khenpo David Karma Choepel as an introduction to the history of the ceremony and instructions on the attitudes to be held during the ceremony. (You can read this in a separate report.)
The chief guest at the ceremony was Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang, who was accompanied by Sonam Lama, Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs of Sikkim, Sonam Venchungpa, Member of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly and other Sikkimese officials. Jetsunma Ngodrup Palzom, sister of His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa, was also present.
On this occasion, Khenpo Kalsang Nyima expressed gratitude on behalf of the entire Kagyu Monlam Chenmo assembly to both the Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang and the Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs Sonam Lama for their pure motivation in the past, present, and future in serving the monasteries, and especially for their immeasurable support and ongoing assistance in helping His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa, return to India and especially be allowed to go to Sikkim.
At 9:30 am, Kyabgon Drung Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche and the Red Crown in its brocade covered box, were escorted into the Monlam pavillion in an elaborate procession. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang left his seat and prostrated to Rinpoche with great devotion. Following a mandala offering from the Sikkimese, led by the Chief Minister and the Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs, the ritual began. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Rinpoche spoke briefly.
Kyabgon Drung Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche’s Speech
Now, because of the aspirations and blessings of His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa, the head of our practice lineage of the Karma Kagyu, this 40th Kagyu Monlam has gone very well. And so, the Gyalwang Karmapa has prepared all of the texts, the procedures and the programme for this year's Monlam and we have all completed it as he has instructed us. So, we have the good fortune of completing his wishes. And so, for us to be able to complete this Monlam as His Holiness has instructed is a really incredibly meaningful thing for all of us.
Now, with the Kagyu Monlam, there are many workers. Lama Karma Chodrak, the director, and many other workers. They have a lot of experience, they have good intentions and they all have worked very well. Because of this, just as in the past all of the Kagyu Monlams have been completed very well, this year, the Kagyu Monlam has been completed in an extraordinarily good fashion.
And so, this is the last day of the Kagyu Monlam, we are completing the Kagyu Monlam,
and because of this, it will be able to ripen as a result that will bring incredible benefit to all sentient beings. It will bring incredible benefit to this very world and in particular, it will be especially beneficial for all Buddhist practitioners.
Now, one reason why this Kagyu Monlam has been completed in such a wonderful fashion is that the many representatives of the land of Sikkim, the hidden land that was prophesied by Guru Rinpoche, have been able to join us today.
And in particular, we have the Chief Minister, Prem Singh Tamang, as well as Lama Sonam and several other ministers. They have been able to come and join us on this day, and this is an especially wonderful aspect of today.
Today, on behalf of the Gyalwang Karmapa, the head of all the Kagyu lineages, as well as on behalf of the Kagyu Monlam organisation, I would like to offer a warm welcome to the Chief Minister, Prem Singh Tamang and all the other representatives who are here.
My hope is that because of the aspirations and the blessings of the Gyalwang Karmapa, in the future, this Kagyu Monlam may flourish and thrive even more than before.
My hope is that next year we will all be able to come and gather here joyfully and happily for the next Kagyu Monlam.
After this short speech, Gyaltsab Rinpoche bestowed the long-life empowerment of Amitayus.
In conclusion, in gratitude for the great kindness demonstrated by Rinpoche, he received an elaborate body-speech-mind mandala offering from the Kagyu Monlam Organisation and sponsors.
