| Tibetan
New Year-Losar |
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| The Great Prayer Festival
of Lhasa, from January 8 through 14 on the Tibetan
calendar, is the grandest religious festival in
Tibet. It has its origin in a prayer meeting organized
at Jokhang Temple by Tsong Khapa, founder of the
Gelukpa Sect, in 1409. Thousands of monks from far
and near will gather for prayers, theological debates
and examination for Geshe, a doctoral degree in
Buddhist theology, at the temple. Pilgrims will
come from everywhere to listen to sermons |
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| The Butter lamp
Festival |
| . The Butter lamp Festival
falls on January 15 of the Tibetan calendar, which
has its origin in a celebration with many butter
lamps to honor the victory of Sakyamuni in a debate
against Heretics. During the festive celebration,
Barkhor Street in Lhasa is crowded with people and
by nightfall is brightly lit with thousands of lamps
made of butter in an intriguing assortment of designs.
The festive mood lasts throughout the night. |
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| Saga Dawa |
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| Gyantse Horse
Racing Festival |
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| Tashilumpo
Buddha-Thangka Unfolding Festival |
| Tashilumpo Buddha-Unfolding
Festival at Tashilumbu Temple was created by the
first Dalai Gengdu Zhuma some 150 years ago. The
festival lasts for three days. Different portraits
of Buddha are exhibited each day. They are hand-embroidered
on silk or satin. The Buddha-unfolding Festival
is an important religious activity at Tashilunpo
Temple for scripture chanting, prayer for rain and
also a joyous festival for masses in rear Tibet. |
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| Zamling
Chisang/Samye Dolde Festival, |
| 'Zamling Chisang' was
originally meant to commemorate Guru Rinpoche's
subjugation of the local deities and the founding
of Samye Monastery. In Lhasa, there is the spectacle
of large amounts of 'Sang' being burned up on the
hills of Chakpori, Bumpari (on the southern side
of the Kyi-chu) and Gephelri (behind Drepung Monastery),
etc. |
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| palden
Lhamo |
| Tibet's protector deity
Palden Lhamo's festival. A Palden Lhamo float is
paraded through the Barkhor |
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| Lhabab Düchen |
| Lhabab Düchen (November-December)
commemorates Buddha's descent from heaven. |
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| Changtang
Chachen Horse Race Festival |
| As the most important
festival in North Tibet during the golden season
on the grassland, thousand of herdsmen /nomads throng
in Nakchu, riding fine horses, and carrying the
local products. The events feature horse race, horsemanship
and archery. Songs and dance troupes from all parts
of Tibet join together to add flair. |
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| Shoton
Festival |
| It is the opera festival
and one of the grandest festivals in Tibet. In ancient
times pious folks went into mountain hermitages
for penance, and on the last day of which Yogurt
was served for meal followed by entertainment of
folk songs and daces. In course of period, Tibetan
local opera was added to this otherwise exclusively
religious event. From the beginning of the 18th
century, the main site of the festival was moved
to Norbu Lingka and celebrations became formalized
which include shining of the Buddha's portrait,
folk amusement at the local park and performances
of Tibetan operas. Popular fairs are also organized
during the festival. |
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| Harvest
Festival( around September) |
The farmers in Lhasa,
Gyantse and Shangnan to celebrate their harvest.
During that time, people enjoy with horse racing
games, costume fashion show, songs and dance
Archery and picnic etc. |
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| Kongpo
Traditional Festival (November of December) |
| Long ago, when Tibet
was in danger of large scale invasion, the Kongpo
people sent out an army to defend their homeland.
The people fearing that they would miss Losar or
the new year celebration, proponed it and celebrated
the losar before the time for the sake of the soldiers.
This tradition continued every year and till date
and like the losar, Kongpo festival is celebrated
with feast, entertainment, horse race and archery. |
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| Nakchu Horse Race
Festival |
