Visitor Resources: Sakya Centre India

Visitor Resources

Sakya Centre is located in Dehradun, Uttaranchal, India at 187 Rajpur Road. When His Holiness is in residence in India, he often holds public interviews between 10am-12noon daily. Contact the Sakya Centre (below) for additional details if you plan to visit in India. See the Schedule page for additional information on when His Holiness is in India.

Sakya Centre is 12 kms from the center of Dehradun. To reach Dehradun:

By Air
Flights from Delhi on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, operated by the national carrier land at Jolly Grant airport, 24 kms from the city. Chartered flights are also available to Dehradun, Mussoorie and other small towns in the area.

By Train
There are many train connections (Railway station – Ph: 0135 – 622131) with New Delhi . Travel up on the superfast luxury Shatabdi Express or the overnight Mussoorie Express and the Doon Express. Other major cities connected by rail are Lucknow , Varanasi , Mumbai and Calcutta . From the station you can take a bus or hop into an auto rickshaw to take you to your destination in the city.

By Road
You can drive to Dehradun from any neighbouring state or town. The drive from Delhi takes six hours and the road is good in parts. Also, it helps if you have a car at your disposal in Dehradun. Buses arrive at the Delhi Bus Stand on Gandhi Road, Mussoorie Bus Stand near the railway station or the City Bus Stand near the Parade Grounds. There are regular services connecting Mussoorie, Haridwar, Nainital, Kullu, Shimla, Agra and Delhi .

Additional resources on travel in India:
journeymart.com
lonelyplanet.com
roughguides.com

Sakya Centre
187 Rajpur Road
Dehradun (U.K.) India
see contact page for additional information

Dolma Phodrang (Palace/Residence of His Holiness)
192 Rajpur Road
Dehradun (U.K.) India
see contact page for additional information

ANNUAL GRAND RITUALS & PUJAS AT SAKYA CENTRE IN INDIA

The following Drubchös and pujas are usually performed with His Holiness as Vajramaster when he is in residence. Tara Ritual and Mahakala Puja are also held every day. At the request of devotees and sponsors, pujas and scripture recitations are also held frequently. Check the Sakya Centre website for additional information. See the schedule page for His Holiness's complete international travel schedule.

February 24, 2007: Vajrayogini Drubchö: Held annually from the 8th day of the 1st Lunar month for three days.

May 27, 2007: Mahavairocana Drubchö: Held annually from the 11th of 4th Lunar month for five consecutive days. During this Drubchö, changchoks’ [purifying rituals for the deceased] are offered for all the sentient beings who have passed away.

June 25, 2007: Wrathful Padmasambhava Puja: This is held for a day on the 10th of the fifth Lunar month.

August 24, 2007: Vajrakilaya Drubchö: Held annually from the 11th day of the 7th Lunar month for eleven consecutive days. During this Drubchö, select monks are graded individually on their performances as chant masters leading the Vajrakilaya Drubcho.
>Go to article based on an interview with His Holiness describing the history and tradition of this practice
>Go to photogallery of Vajrakilya ritual held at Sakya Centre, India

October 24, 2007: Hevajra Drubchö: Held annually from the 13th of 9th Lunar month for eight consecutive days. As with all Drubchös, elaborate sand mandalas and offerings are prepared by the Sangha.

December 20, 2007: Chakrasamvara Drubchö: Held annually from the 11th day of the eleventh Lunar month for seven consecutive days. As with all Drubchös, elaborate sand mandalas and offerings are prepared by the Sangha.

January 30, 2008: Gutor: Held annually from the 23rd day of the last Lunar month of the year for seven consecutive days. During Gutor, the main deity is usually Vajrakilaya. Ritual dances are performed on this occasion.

Dhus Tor or Mahakala Day: Held annually from the 26th day of each Lunar month for five consecutive days.

Dhamtsig Kangso: Held at the end of alternate Lunar years, and usually lasts for seven consecutive days. This special Mahakala puja is a unique feature of the Sakya Monastery in Tibet .

For a complete list of regular and special Sakya Holy Days throughout the year, visit the Sakya Resource Guide website.