Senior monks prostrating before the image of the Buddha and His Holiness the Dalai Lama before the novice monk and nun ordination ceremony for candidates mostly from Taiwan in the ordination hall at His Holiness's residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Ven Zamling Norbu
Candidates for novice monk and nun ordination, mostly from Taiwan, walking to the ordination room at Holiness the Dalai lama's residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
His Holiness the Dalai Lama performing ritual hand gestures at the start of the novice monk and nun ordination ceremony for candidates mostly from Taiwan in the ordination hall at his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
A view of the candidates for novice monk and nun ordination wearing a ritual white cloth at the start of the ordination ceremony in the ordination hall at His Holiness the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
Candidates for novice monk and nun ordination, mostly from Taiwan, listening to the ordination instructions in the ordination hall at His Holiness the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
Assistant monks performing the ritual hair cutting during the novice monk and nun ordination ceremony in the ordination hall at His Holiness the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
Geshe Thupten Palsang, one of the senior monks taking part in the novice monk and nun ordination ceremony, blessing the robes of the candidate in the ordination hall at His Holiness the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
Namgyal Monastery Abbot Geshe Lobsang Samten performing rituals with the candidates for novice monk and nun ordination during in the ordination hall at His Holiness the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
His Holiness the Dalai Lama reading from the text during the novice monk and nun ordination ceremony at his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
A young candidate listening to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's instructions during the novice monk and nun ordination at the ordination hall at His Holiness's residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
A view of the candidates for novice monk and nun ordination listening to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the ordination hall at His Holiness's residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
Ordination names chosen by His Holiness the Dalai Lama being handed out to the candidates for novice monk and nun ordination at the ordination hall at His Holiness's residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
A view from outside the ordination hall during the novice monk and nun ordination ceremony in the ordination hall at His Holiness the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
Candidates for novice monk and nun ordination, mostly from Taiwan, taking a tea break during the ordination ceremony in the ordination hall at His Holiness the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
His Holiness the Dalai Lama having some tea during a break in the novice monk and nun ordination ceremony in the ordination hall at his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
His Holiness the Dalai Lama posing for a photo with newly ordained novice monks and nuns, mostly from Taiwan, in the ordination hall at his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
His Holiness the Dalai Lama presenting a Buddha statue to each of the newly ordained novice monks and nuns, mostly from Taiwan, at the conclusion of the ordination ceremony at his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 2, 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
