Vesak - Buddha Festival at the Graglia Monastery
The sacred day of the Buddha featuring ceremonies, chants, and Tibetan culture in the Biellese Alps
About Vesak in Graglia
A corner of Tibet in the Biellese Alps
Above the village of Graglia, in the Province of Biella, tucked away in the woods leading up to the Sanctuary, stands Mandala Samten Ling, the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Northern Italy, founded in 1991 by the Venerable Lama Paljin Tulku Rinpoche and linked to the Drikung Kagyu tradition. It is here, in this slice of Tibet nestled among the mountains of the Graglia municipality, that Vesak, the most important event in the Buddhist calendar, is celebrated every June.
Vesak is the sacred day that commemorates the three fundamental moments in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha: his birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana. For the monastery community and the many visitors who make the journey up here, it is a unique opportunity for meeting, reflection, and joyful sharing, where Tibetan spirituality opens up to the public in a festival of colors, sounds, and scents.
A festival of ceremonies, chants, and music
The day unfolds from morning until evening, weaving together ritual and cultural moments. It begins with purification chants and the evocative Bathing of the Baby Buddha ceremony, a symbol of inner rebirth, officiated by monks from various Tibetan traditions. The program also includes meditation, chants by Tibetan women, and panel discussions that address a different theme each year regarding the dialogue between East and West.
The convivial heart of the festival is the Tibetan lunch, prepared by the monks according to traditional customs: a moment of sharing that allows guests to savor the cuisine of the plateau and experience the hospitality of the exiled community integrated into the Biellese territory.
Spirituality open to all
The Vesak in Graglia is not an event reserved for practitioners: it is a day designed to welcome anyone curious about Tibetan culture, Buddhist philosophy, or simply wishing to spend a different kind of Sunday under the ideal spiritual guidance of the 14th Dalai Lama, who sends a message to the monks of Graglia every year. Amidst the Piedmontese Alps, the festival becomes a bridge between cultures, an invitation to peace and compassion that attracts visitors from across the region and beyond.
Vesak in Graglia — edition 2026
Il Vesak 2026 al Mandala Samten Ling di Graglia è stato dedicato al tema "Tibet: l'orgoglio e la devozione". La giornata ha celebrato l'eredità culturale e spirituale tibetana attraverso cerimonie, musica e momenti di confronto, con la presenza dell'artista internazionale Loten Namling, reduce dalla Biennale di Venezia 2026. Organizzata dalla comunità del monastero guidata dal Lama Paljin Tulku Rinpoce, la festa ha richiamato visitatori da tutto il Biellese e oltre, all'insegna del dialogo e della pace.
Programme Vesak in Graglia 2026
Domenica 14 giugno 2026 — ore 10:00-18:00
- 10:00 — Accoglienza
- 10:30 — Benvenuto del Presidente
- 10:40 — Interventi istituzionali
- 11:00 — Canti di purificazione
- 11:10 — Cerimonia del Buddha Bambino
- 11:25 — Tavola Rotonda (parte prima): "Tibet: l'orgoglio"
- 12:25 — Canti delle donne tibetane
- 12:40 — Loten Namling e il suo liuto tibetano (Drangyen)
- 13:00 — Pranzo tibetano preparato dai monaci
- 14:40 — Tavola Rotonda (parte seconda): "Tibet: la devozione"
- 15:45 — Messaggio dei religiosi per il dialogo
- 16:00 — Messaggio del Dalai Lama
- 16:30 — Loten Namling: La musica della libertà
- 16:50 — Cerimonia di benedizione e saluti finali
Highlights Vesak in Graglia 2026
L'ospite d'eccezione è stato Loten Namling (Darjeeling, 1963), musicista, attivista e custode della cultura tibetana, definito dal Dalai Lama "una voce unica": suona il Drangyen, il liuto tradizionale tibetano, fondendo tradizione con rock, jazz e blues. Tra gli altri momenti forti, la cerimonia del Buddha Bambino, i canti delle donne tibetane, le due tavole rotonde su orgoglio e devozione del popolo tibetano e il messaggio del Dalai Lama.
Prices Vesak in Graglia 2026
Practical information — Vesak in Graglia
Location
Mandala Samten Ling Buddhist Monastery, Via Campiglie 84, 13895 Graglia (BI), in the Graglia Santuario area, in the mountains of the Biella region.
How to get there
Graglia can be reached by car from Biella in about 20 minutes, driving up towards the Sanctuary. The monastery is located along the Via delle Campiglie. We recommend using a car, as public transport is limited.
Booking and contribution
Spaces are limited and booking is mandatory by calling the office at +39 371 4850044 or emailing [email protected]. A contribution is requested to support the Center's activities. The event takes place even in case of rain, with possible minor changes to the program.
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Where does it take place — Vesak in Graglia
Monastero Buddhista Mandala Samten Ling
Via Campiglie 84, 13895 Graglia