Fletcher Tashi Among the Monks Chapter 23

A very grand guard of honor walked on the street, with Tibetan soldiers and lamas holding horse flags and avoidance cards in a mighty manner. There was a tall lama at the front of the ceremonial guard, whipping his whip and shouting, "Gyo! Geyo!" People watching the excitement from far and near crowded into a group. There were people on the streets, on the walls, and on the roofs. Wherever the guard of honor went, the onlookers immediately moved away. Some pressed their faces against the wall, while others bent over and stuck out their tongues, their faces full of awe. The honor guard beat gongs and drums and rushed to the gate of Yongdan Mansion. The incense table has been set up in the courtyard of Yongdan Mansion, and the sound of gongs and drums outside the courtyard is getting closer and closer.

Gele and Zhandui came out of the main building wearing rich clothes, and Zhuoga was decorated with various precious ornaments. As soon as they stood still, the leading members of the honor guard entered the courtyard, followed by a stream of official officers filing in. They held official uniforms, official hats, and yellow seal bags in their hands... The last ones who appeared were monk officials, housekeeper Reting, Galun, Ziben and other officials.

Gele stepped forward to salute and said loudly: "Master Khenpo, Tudengele leads all the masters and servants of Yongden Mansion to kowtow to you." After saying this, the masters and servants of Yongden Mansion knelt down and kowtowed.

The ceremony is over. The monk took the three sticks of lit Tibetan incense and held it high above his head. The master of ceremonies said loudly: "We worship the incarnation of Manjushri Bodhisattva in the human world, the Great Emperor of Nanjing."

The monk bowed toward the east.