Dharamshala: The closing ceremony of the 30th Tibetan Nuns’ Winter Debate Session (Jang Gunchö) and the graduation ceremony of the 9th batch of Geshemas were held at Lower TCV on 20 October 2026.

Kyabje Ling Choktrul Rinpoche attended the ceremony’s morning session as its chief guest, alongside special guests Kasur (former Kalon) Rinchen Khando, Special Advisor of the Tibetan Nuns Project: Jigme Namgyal, Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture; Youdon Aukatsang, Executive Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project; and Geshema Ngawang Chokyi, President of the 9th Geshema Exams Committee, from the Jangchub Choeling Nunnery.

The ceremony began at 9:00 a.m. with the recitation of opening prayers. During the ceremony, Geshema Ngawang Chokyi gave a talk on the background of the Geshema degree. Executive Director Youdon Aukatsang briefly spoke about the work of the Tibetan Nuns Project and its future plans.

Chief guest Kyabje Ling Choktrul Rinpoche then presented diplomas to the thirty-three Geshemas of the 9th batch. The Department of Religion and Culture and the Tibetan Nuns Project also conferred presents to the graduating Geshemas. Kasur Rinchen Khando then spoke to the nuns about the importance of harmonising outward conduct and of inner harmony and discipline.

Secretary Jigme Namgyal congratulated the graduating Geshemas. He said that the Geshemas should engage in meditation practice if possible. If not, they should at least take up one major text, study it single-pointedly, and continue along the path of learning. He added that young nuns should study Buddhist philosophy while also applying themselves diligently to the sciences, grammar, and languages, as well as to explanation, debate, and composition, since this is what the present time requires. He also said that those who did not pass the Geshema examination should not be discouraged, as they have studied the major texts. In particular, he said, the nuns must never forget that these opportunities to study, reflect, and meditate on the great texts exist solely through the benevolence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Finally, chief guest Kyabje Ling Choktrul Rinpoche said that, compared with the nuns of earlier times in Tibet, the nuns of today are very fortunate, and that they must hold on to these opportunities.

Afterward, Geshema Tenzin Jorgay, a member of the executive committee of the 30th Winter Debate Session of the Tibetan Nuns, presented the financial report and gave a speech of thanks. At the end, the chant master recited prayers for the long life of His Holiness and an auspicious verse, along with dedication and aspiration prayers, and the ceremony concluded successfully.

Earlier on 17 October, the nuns took their rounds of debate (dra kor) at the Thekchen Choeling Temple in Dharamshala. On the morning of 18 October, His Holiness the Dalai Lama graciously came to Thekchen Choeling Temple. The Geshemas offered a presentation on the topic of the Mahayana generation of bodhicitta. The nuns who had attended the Winter Debate Session then presented their debates in sequence. These covered the root verse of the Pramāṇavārttika’s opening homage, and, continuing from Dispelling the Net of Conceptual Thought, the identification of the self of persons according to Gyalwang Gedun Drupa’s Ornament of Reasoning (Tsema Riggyen), and the correct reasons for proving the selflessness of persons. Afterward, His Holiness bestowed the oral transmission of the Prayer to the Twenty-One Holy Women Siddhas of India and Tibet, which His Holiness composed, and a group photo was taken. On 19 October, the remaining Geshemas took their dra kor debates at Lower TCV, the venue of the 30th Winter Debate Session. A total of 511 nuns attended the gathering for the Winter Debate Session and the Geshemas’ dra kor.

The first batch of Geshemas graduated on 22 December 2016, when His Holiness the Dalai Lama presented Geshema degree to 20 nuns at Drepung Loseling Monastery in Mundgod. With the thirty-three Geshemas of this 9th batch, a total of 153 Geshemas have now completed their studies.

The 30th Winter Debate Session of the nuns was held from 20 September to 20 October, 2026, with 475 participants from eleven nunneries.