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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. |
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