DHARAMSHALA: The month-long annual inter-nunnery winter debate (Tib: Jang Gun Choe) began on Saturday, 3 October, at the Geden Choeling Nunnery based in Mcleod Ganj. The debate will conclude on 3 November.

Over 300 Tibetan Buddhist nuns from seven different nunneries across Nepal and India are participating in this year’s debate. Intensive debates on the precepts of Buddhism will be held during the session for an enhanced understanding of the Buddhist philosophies during the session.

Dignitaries present at the opening ceremony include Kalon Pema Chhinjor of the Department of Religion and Culture, and Kasur Rinchen Khando, founder and chairperson of the Tibetan Nuns Project.

The winter debate or Jang Gun Choe originated in central Tibet in the monasteries and nunneries west of Lhasa. It is an inter monastic/nunnery debate session which is held for one month.