Lhabab Duchen, also known as Buddha’s Descent Day, is a significant festival in Buddhism that commemorates an important event in the life of the Buddha.

According to tradition, the Buddha ascended to the Trāyastriṃśa heaven temporarily at the age of 41, in order to give teachings to benefit the gods in that desire realm, and to repay the kindness of his mother by liberating her from Samsara. He was exhorted by his disciple and representative Maudgalyayana to return, and after a long debate and under a full moon agreed to return. He returned to earth a week later by a special triple ladder prepared by Viswakarma, the Hindu-Buddhist god of machines.

Lhabab Duchen occurs on the 22nd day of the ninth lunar month according to the Tibetan calendar. It is widely celebrated in Tibet, Bhutan, and other Buddhist Asian countries.

On Lhabab Duchen, the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied ten million times. It is part of Tibetan Buddhist tradition to engage in virtuous activities and prayer on this day. This can include attending local pujas or teachings, keeping all eight Mahayana precepts for 24 hours, donating to charity, especially to the Buddhist Sangha of Monks, Nuns and Lay Teachers, circumambulating a stupa and chanting mantras, taking formal refuge in the Three Jewels, and making extra offerings.

So, Lhabab Duchen is not just a celebration of Buddha’s descent from the Trāyastriṃśa heaven down to earth, but also a day of increased spiritual practice and merit-making. It’s a day when Buddhists focus on giving and benefiting others, which in turn is believed to increase their own happiness.