Today is Choekhor Duchen, one of the four great festivals of Shakyamuni, commemorating the First Turning of the Wheel at Sarnath, forty-nine days after Buddha gained enlightenment. At the request of the gods Brahma and Indra, Buddha arose from meditation and gave the first teaching which we now refer to as the Four Noble Truths. This is celebrated on the 4th day of the 6th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar.