China bans Tibetans including children from observing Saka Dawa in Chamdo
DHARAMSALA, May 16: Tibetans were ordered not to take their Children to religious activities and rituals and shouldn’t observe Saka Dawa either, an order issued by the Chinese authorities in Chamdo region in the traditional Tibetan province of Kham demanded.
The order issued by the Chinese authorities to the Tibetan households’ states that, as the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, Saka Dawa arrives; parents are hereby informed of the orders Issued by the Education Affairs Committee, the Municipal People’s Government, and Municipal Education Bureau of the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).
The order bans Tibetans in Chamdo from taking their children to monasteries and religious activities and ordered them not to observe Saka Dawa either. Those who don’t adhere to the order will be dealt with severely according to the law it said.
The order further stated that the Chinese authorities will be closely monitoring the Tibetans during the Tibetan holy month by inspecting student’s attendance in school to severely discipline the violators.
The tall order from the Chinese authorities was dated May 14, 2018, and the Saka Dawa, the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar started yesterday.
The month is considered holy by the Tibetan Buddhists as the 15th day of the month marks Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death (parinirvana).
It is believed that the merit of any good deeds that one performs during this month will be multiplied many times over. Hence Tibetan Buddhists resort to all kinds of spiritually positive actions during the month.
Previously in 2012, Chinese authorities in the so-called TAR have issued a similar notification and banned members of the Party, cadres, government officials and even students from participating in religious activities during Saka Dawa.
The religious persecution was not just limited to Tibetans, the Chinese regime has also served a similar order in the past and banned Uyghur Muslims from fasting during Ramadan, Islam’s holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer.
