Bhutan to Host Global Peace Prayer Festival to Unite Buddhist Leaders Worldwide

Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, is set to host the Global Peace Prayer Festival (GPPF), a two-week-long spiritual assembly dedicated to world peace and the healing of humanity. Scheduled from November 4 to 19, 2025, the festival will bring together eminent Buddhist lamas, scholars, and practitioners from across the globe, representing every school of Buddhism.

A Global Call for Compassion and Unity

The GPPF, organised by the Royal Government of Bhutan in collaboration with the Central Monastic Body and the Centre for Bhutan and GNH Studies, seeks to promote compassion, peace, and collective well-being in an era marked by conflict and social unrest. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay emphasised the festival’s relevance, stating that “the need for peace, compassion, and understanding has never been greater.”

Held at the Kuenselphodrang and Changlimithang Ground, the festival will be open to all — including Buddhist practitioners, scholars, and devotees from diverse backgrounds — with simultaneous translations available in English, Tibetan, and Dzongkha.

Highlights of the Spiritual Gathering

The GPPF will commence with the Jabzhi Dhoechog ritual (November 4–7), a rarely performed ceremony combining peaceful offerings and protective chants for universal harmony. This will be followed by the Global Peace Prayer (November 8–10), large-scale public blessings by eminent lamas, and the collective recitation of the Bazaguru mantra on November 11, symbolising a united aspiration for global tranquillity.

Between November 12 and 14, the Kalachakra Empowerment will be conferred by His Holiness the Je Khenpo, Bhutan’s highest spiritual authority, offering profound insight into the sacred connection between the individual and the universe.

Empowering Women in Monastic Traditions

A landmark feature of the event will be the Gelongma or bhikshuni ordination of over 250 nuns from November 15 to 19. Presided over by the head of the Drugpa Kagyu school, this ceremony marks a progressive step toward gender equality in Vajrayana Buddhism, where women have traditionally been denied full ordination.

Exam Oriented Facts

• The Global Peace Prayer Festival (GPPF) will take place in Thimphu, Bhutan, from November 4–19, 2025.
• Key rituals include the Jabzhi Dhoechog, Bazaguru mantra recitation, and Kalachakra Empowerment.
• Over 250 nuns will receive full ordination during the festival — a first in Bhutan’s Vajrayana tradition.
• Events will be livestreamed globally, with translations in English, Tibetan, and Dzongkha.

Integrating Spirituality with Modern Technology

In an effort to merge tradition with innovation, the festival will also see the launch of the “Guru App,” designed as a digital companion for spiritual guidance. Alongside prayers and ceremonies, exhibitions showcasing Kalachakra art and academic seminars will further explore Buddhism’s role in fostering peace and harmony in a rapidly changing world.