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.
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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