A soup kitchen isn’t about soup. It’s a British term for a place which provides free food to the needy.

The Soup Kitchen is hosted by the All India Bhikku Sangha, in their headquarters, across the road from the Sujata Tourist Complex. Kagyu Monlam staff and the Kagyupa International Monlam Trust work in co-operation with a UK charity, the Hart Knowe Trust, to provide a nutritious meal for the people in Bodhgaya each lunchtime during the Monlam.

Indian staff are hired to cook the food but it is prepared and served by a group of international volunteers.

1. Escorted by Drupon Dechen Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche crosses from the Medical Camp to the Soup Kitchen, with Kagyu Monlam CEO Lama Chodrak, Vin and Marilyn Harris of Hart Knowe Trust and Lhakpa Tsering.

2. In discussion with Bikkhu Pragya Deep, head of the All India Bhikku Sangha.

3. Bikkhu Pragya Deep hosts the Soup Kitchen every year.

4. Mingyur Rinpoche visits the kitchens where Indian cooks prepare the food traditionally over fire pits.

5. Paying homage at the golden Buddha in the grounds.

6. Rinpoche leads blessing prayers.

7. Rinpoche helps serve the food.

8. Carefully placing segments of orange on the plate of this cycle rickshaw wallah.

9. Many of the men at the kitchen are rickshaw wallahs. Engaged in hard physical labour all day, they burn many calories but earn very low wages, so most are malnourished. Not only do they often look much older than they are, but many do not live much beyond 40.

10. Rinpoche asked to sample the food- rice, dal and curried vegetables.

11. Served on a compostable banana leaf plate .

12. A photo opportunity for the volunteers.

13. Joyful Mingyur Rinpoche.

On the first day of the 36th Kagyu Monlam Chenmo, after conferring the Sojong vows, HE Goshir Gyaltsap Rinpoche visited the Mahabodhi Temple. As is the tradition, he made offerings to the golden Buddha before visiting the Great Nyingma Monlam, which is taking place concurrently with Kagyu Monlam.

1. The Mahabodhi Temple Bodhgaya, 7.30am on 14th January, 2019.

2. HE Gyaltsap Rinpoche and entourage arrive at the Mahabodhi Temple grounds.

3. In the main shrine room, Gyaltsap Rinpoche offers prayers for the peace and well-being of all sentient beings.

4. Every day of Kagyu Monlam, it is traditional to offer a set of robes and 7 bowls of offerings to the golden Buddha.

5. Rinpoche visits the Nyingma Monlam and offers a katag at the throne of the late Head of the Nyingma School, Kathok Getse Rinpoche.

6. He also stops to offer prayers at a photograph of Kathok Getse Rinpoche, who died tragically in an accident in November 2018.

7. Gyaltsab Rinpoche greets Muktsang Rinpoche from Penor Rinpoche’s Palyul monastery.

8. Gyaltsab Rinpoche greets Minling Khenchen Rinpoche, the abbot of Mindroling Monastery.

9. Touring the Nyingma Monlam.

10. Touring the Nyingma Monlam.

11. Gyaltsab Rinpoche leaves the stupa to return to the Kagyu Monlam Pavillion where he will give the first session of teachings on Geshe Chekawa’s Seven Points of Mind Training.

H.E. Goshir Gyaltsap Rinpoche arrived at Tergar Monastery in late afternoon following his long journey from Sikkim. Monastics in ceremonial dress and eager laity with katas lined the roadside and entrance into Tergar Monastery. Gyaltsap Rinpoche is giving The Torma Empowerment of the Five Deities of Gyalwa Gyatso on January 13. Then he will preside over the Monlam where he will give teachings on Geshe Chekawa’s The Seven Points Mind Training.

1. Monastics line the road to the monastery before the arrival of H.E. Goshir Gyaltsap Rinpoche.

2. Procession of monks wearing ceremonial hats with gyalings, banners, and katas awaits Gyaltsap Rinpoche.

3. Smiling young nuns stand by the gate to greet Gyaltsap Rinpoche.

4. Both lay and monastics wait inside the gate leading to Tergar Monastery.

5. Rinpoche’s car arrives at the entrance of Tegar Monastery preceded by the procession.

6. Khenpo Kelsang Nyima, head Khenpo of Rumtek, greets Gyaltsap Rinpoche.

7. Mingyur Rinpoche offers a kata.

8. Gyaltsap Rinpoche greets monks as he walks towards the temple.

9. Gyaltsap Rinpoche proceeds through the crowd.

10.

11. Lay people offer katas from the steps of the temple.

12. Gyaltsap Rinpoche in the portico of the temple.

13. After a long journey by car from Sikkim, Gyaltsap Rinpoche relaxes in his quarters above the main shrine room with Mingyur Rinpoche.