|
LIST OF FESTIVALS
|
Region |
2011
|
Notes |
|
Tibetan New
Year (Losar) |
Lhasa/Kham/Amdo |
Mar 5 |
Lively one to two week festival
celebrating the new year. Most important festival of the year. |
|
Monlam Prayer
Festival |
Lhasa/Kham/Amdo |
Mar 8 |
The Great Prayer Festival. Many
pilgrims gather at the Jokhang and other monasteries. |
|
Butter Lamp
Festival |
Lhasa/Amdo |
Mar 19 |
Monks compete in building tall
butter sculpture offerings. Commemorates Buddha’s miracle at
Sravasti. Fires and lamps are lit. |
|
Saga Dawa |
Lhasa/Kham/Amdo |
Jun 15 |
Important month for pilgrims.
Birth of Buddha Shakyamuni. |
|
Thangka
Unveiling |
Lhasa/Amdo |
Jul 15 |
A giant thangka painting is hung
at Tashilunpo and famous monasteries. |
|
Zamling Chisang |
Lhasa |
Jul 15 |
Universal Incense Offering Day.
Picnic, sing, and dance in the park. |
|
Choekor Ducheng |
Lhasa |
Aug 3 |
Commemorates the Buddha’s first
teaching. |
|
Gyantse Horse
Race |
Lhasa |
July 20 |
Horse & yak racing, dancing,
singing, and games. |
|
Shoton Yogurt
Festival |
Lhasa |
Aug 29 |
Picnics and operas are held in
parks, particularly under the trees at Norbulingka. Bonfires at
night. |
|
Nagchu Horse
Race |
Lhasa |
Aug 10 |
Horse & yak racing, dancing,
singing, and games. |
|
Lhabab Dechen |
Lhasa |
Nov 17 |
Festival observing the descent of
Buddha from heaven. |
|
Palden Lhamo
Festival |
Lhasa |
Dec 10 |
A float of Tibet’s protector deity
Palden Lhamo is paraded through the city. |
|
Ganden Nga Choe |
Lhasa / Amdo |
Dec 20 |
Memorial for Tsongkhapa. Buddhists
light lamps, make offerings, and pray. |
|
Ganden Thangka
Unveiling |
Lhasa |
Aug 13 |
A giant thangka painting is hung
at Ganden Monastery. |
|
Jyekundo Horse
Festival |
Kham |
July 25-28 |
The biggest horse racing festival
in Tibet. |
|
Litang Horse
Festival |
Kham |
August 1-5 |
Horse racing, circle dance,
fashion shows. |
|
Kumbum Festival |
Amdo |
May16-17 |
Prayers, thangka unveiling, monks’
mask dance. |
|
Ngawa Losar/Monlam |
Amdo |
Feb 13 |
Horseback fashion show, strength
contest, giant thangka unveiling. |
|
Labrang Losar/Monlam |
Amdo |
Feb 11 |
Commemorates Buddha’s miracle at
Sravasti, thangka unveiling. |
|
Repkong Losar /
Monlam |
Amdo |
Feb 7-12 |
Commemorates Buddha’s miracle at
Sravasti, thangka unveiling. |
|
Repkong Shaman
Festival |
Amdo |
July 21-25 |
Ritual demon exorcism |
|
