Due to Covid Pandemic, the monastery's academic curriculum was disrupted, monastic classes were not conducted as usual despite that the monk students have been self-studying in their quarters and had prepared well to appear and attend their annual monastic examination which was concluded here on 6th November 2021. The Examinations of oral (Memorization), written test, and debating skill test of the academic Year 2021 were successfully conducted under the supervision of His Eminence Khen Rinpoche and the exam committee of the monastery.
Geshe Damcha ceremony for the new Tsokram, kyabchu and Dhoram for the year 2021 was held at the prayer hall temple of the monastery presided by His Eminence Khen Rinpoche. This year, on September 21st, 13 monk staff who have been serving the monastery in various capacities with great dedication, for so many years were honored with Geshe titles by His Eminence Khen Rinpoche. A senior monk and long-time serving member of the Himalayan Buddhist Association, Venerable Gen Chosphel Sopa was honored with Geshe Kyabchu title by His Eminence Khen Rinpoche for his dedication, hard work towards the preservation of Buddhist culture, religion, and language in the Himalayan region of India, and many years of association with the monastery. Also on this auspicious day, the first Indian to be honored with Geshe title at Drepung Gomang Monastery in exile, Ven Tenzin Lhabsum, an Indian monk from IBD, Dharamsala was honored with Geshe title by His Eminence Khen Rinpoche.
Drepung Gomang monastery extends its heartfelt congratulations to all new Geshes of 2021 and extends gratitude to all for many years of dedicated service.
The abbot's tenure is usually is of six years, on 19th September, monks above age of 18 took part in the voting of next Khen Rinpoche of Drepung Gomang Monastery on 19th September 2021. The current H.E. Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen is the 80th Abbot/Khen Rinpoche of Drepung Gomang Monastery. The final appointment will be done by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
On 16th and 17th September, 2nd dose of Covid vaccine was freely administered, about 1300 people (+18 years) were inoculated at Drepung Gomang Monastery, comprising of our monks and lay people from settlement. Drepung Gomang Monastery sincerely conveys deepest gratitude to all kind and grateful donors for this kind compassionate support.
Annual Memorization exam of Year 2021 of Drepung Gomang Monastic college was conducted at Prayer hall temple in the last week of August under the supervision of His Eminence Khen Rinpoche and members of Examination Board. Memorization is the key component part of monastic curriculum. Monk students have to give required number of texts to the examiner during the test.
On 29th August 2021: Honoring the monk students who excels in the annual exam of respective classes of Drepung Gomang School and special language/extra classes. The felicitation ceremony was attended by His Eminence Khen Rinpoche, discipline head,.chant master, directors and administrators, as well as school management staff of Principal, board members, school secretary, class teachers who all have put hard work and effort to keep this initiative going during difficult Pandemic.
Monastery sincerely conveys deepest thank you to all staff and extend congratulations to all those who excels in the exams. More photos on our official facebook page
Due to Wuhan Covid-19 Pandemic and restrictions last year, Drepung Gomang monastery was unable to conduct the annual 'Thuk Choera' a special inter-class monastic debate. This year on 29th July, with the easing of some restrictions, this special and religious traditional event observed and held only at Drepung Gomang, was held with only limited monastic classes ( five classes of Parchen=Prajnaparamita classes) with monks students. Usually, whole senior classes participate in this ceremony which lasts for a week. This year. the annual 'Thuk Choera' was held at the new debate courtyard of the monastery under the strict supervision of His Eminence Khen Rinpoche, Discipline Head, text/scripture teachers, and monks from the classes.