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Tibetan New Year (February or March)
It is the greatest festival in Tibet. In ancient times when the
peach tree was in blossom, it was considered as the starting of
a new year. Since the systematization of the Tibetan calendar in
1027 AD., the first day of the first month became fixed as the
new year. On the New Year's day, families unite " auspicious
dipper" is offered and the auspicious words " tashi delek" are
greeted.
Butter Oil Lantern Festival (February or March)
It's held on the 15th of the first lunar month. Huge yak-butter
sculptures are placed around Lhasa's Barkhor circuit.
Saga Dawa Festival (May or June)
It is the holiest in Tibet, there memorable occasions coincide
on this day, Buddha's birth and Buddha's enlightenment. Almost
every person within Lhasa join in circumambulations round the
city and spend their late afternoon on picnic at " Dzongyab
Lukhang" park at the foot of Potala.
Cost :
US$ 2,500.00
Gyantse Horse Race & Archery (May or June)
Horse race and archert are generally popular in Tibet, and
Gyantse enjoys prestige of being the earliest in history by
starting in 1408. Contests in early times included horse race,
archery, and shooting on gallop followed by a few days'
entertainment or picnicing. Presently, ball games, track and
field events, folk songs and dances, barter trade are in
addition to the above.
Changtang Chachen Horse Race Festival (August)
There are many horse racing festivals in Tibet, the one in Nagqu
of Northern Tibet is the greatest. August is the golden season
on Northern Tibet's vast grassland. Herdsmen , on their
horsebacks, in colorful dresses, carrying tents and local
products, pour into Nagqu. Soon they form a city of tents.
Various exciting programs are held, such as horse racing, yak
racing, archery, horsemanship and commodity fair.
Shoton Festival (August)
It is one of the major festivals in Tibet, also known as the
Tibetan Opera Festival. The founder of the Gelugpa (Yellow Sect
of Buddhism), Tsongkhapa set the rule that Buddhists can
cultivate themselves only indoor in summer, to avoid killing
other creatures carelessly. Because creatures are most active in
summer. This rule must be carried out till the seventh lunar
month. Then Buddhists go outdoor, accept yoghurt served by local
people, and have fun. Since the middle of 17th century, the
Fifth Dalai Lama added opera performance to this festival.
Famous Tibetan opera troupes perform in Norbulingka (Dalai
Lama's summer palace).
Bathing Festival (September)
It is believed when the sacred planet Venus appears in the sky,
the water in the river becomes purest and cures diseases. During
its appearance for one week, usually the end of the seventh and
beginning of the eighth lunar months, all the people in Tibet go
into the river to wash away the grime of the previous year.
Kungbu Traditional Festival (November or December)
Long long ago, when Tibet was in danger of large scale invasion,
the Kongpo people sent out an army to defend their homeland. It
was in September and the soldiers worried that they might miss
the New Year, highland barley wine and other good things. So
people had the Tibetan New Year on 1st October ahead of time. To
memorize those brave soldiers Kongpo people present three
sacrifices an stay up at night from then on. And now it has
become the Kongpo Festival for entertainment like Kongpo
dancing, horse race, archery and shooting.
Harvest Festival (September)
The farmers in Lhasa, Gyantse and Shangnan to celebrating their
bumer harvest in this time. During that time, people enjoy with
horse racing games, custom fashion show, songs and dance Archery
and picnic etc. |