Saka Dawa month begins May 17 and ends June 15, 2026. It is the holiest month in Tibetan Buddhism, commemorating the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (when a buddha passes away and leaves his or her earthly body), and includes Saga Dawa Düchen on May 31.

Durng this time Buddhists around the world engage in many prayers and practices, make extensive offerings to teachers and holy objects, and perform charitable activities. This occasion is an excellent opportunity for beneficial thoughts, speech, and actions, and to dedicate ourselves to practice and study. 

As this sacred month is considered an especially auspicious time to create merit, on our calendar, you’ll find a variety of events including Ven. Robina Courtin’s retreat, Puja & Practices Day, additional pujas, meditations and teachings. During this auspicious time, FPMT is launching the Global MANI Retreat on May 17 and offers special practices for holy days. Also visit World Beyond Shantideva Center, a page dedicated to sharing Dharma events from the wider world beyond Shantideva Center. There you can find events taking place during Saka Dawa month and beyond.

We encourage you to make a special offering on your altar: fruit, sweets, or flowers, which will create an abundance of positive energy.

Since the month of Saka Dawa is an auspicious time to create merit, we invite you to make an offering to help sustain Shantideva Center. The practice of generosity strengthens our karmic connections to the teachings and our teachers, now and in the future. It also serves as the cause for our own future prosperity and opens the heart to our interconnectedness. 

The karmic results of everything we do on Saga Dawa Düchen (May 31, 2026) are multiplied by 100 million, according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, as cited in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.