Chökhor Düchen (Tibetan: ཆོས་འཁོར་དུས་ཆེན།) — the "Festival of the Turning of the Dharma Wheel" — falls on the 4th day of the sixth Tibetan lunar month. It commemorates the Buddha's first teaching, delivered at Sarnath's Deer Park, where he set the Wheel of Dharma in motion.
In the Fire Horse Year (2153) Chökhor Düchen fell on Saturday, 18 July 2026.
The First Turning of the Wheel
After attaining enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree, the Buddha remained in silent meditation for seven weeks before being persuaded to teach. He travelled to the Deer Park at Sarnath, near Varanasi, and there gave his first discourse to the five ascetics who had once been his companions — expounding the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. This first turning of the Dharma wheel marks the beginning of the Buddha's teaching career and the founding of the monastic Sangha.
One of the Four Great Holy Days
Chökhor Düchen is one of the four great Düchen of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar — together with Chötrul Düchen, Saka Dawa Düchen, and Lhabab Düchen. On these days the effects of all actions, positive and negative, are said to be multiplied many millions of times, making them especially powerful occasions for prayer, purification, and generosity.
How to Take Part
At Segyu Gaden Phodrang we mark this day with prayers and offerings. You are warmly invited to offer butter lamps, flowers, and dedications, or to sponsor a puja so that our monks may dedicate the merit for you and for all beings. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates on this year's observance.