Tibetan Festivals

 

Tibetan Festivals 2010


Tibetan New Year
(Losar) Feb 14 Lively one to two week festival celebrating the new year. Most important festival of the year.
Monlam Prayer Festival
 Feb 18-24 The Great Prayer Festival. Many pilgrims gather at the Jokhang in Lhasa.
Butter Sculpture Contest
Feb 27-28 Monks compete in building tall butter sculpture offerings. Amdo.
Butter Lamp Festival
Feb 28 Commemorates Buddha’s miracle at Sravasti. Fires and lamps are lit.
Saga Dawa
May 27 Important month for pilgrims. Birth of Buddha Shakyamuni.
Mask Dance
May 27-28 Monastic mask dance. Amdo.
Gyantse Horse Race
May 27-30 Horse & yak racing, dancing, singing, and games. U-Tsang.
Thangka Unveiling
June 26 A giant thangka painting is hung at Tashilunpo in Shigatse (U-Tsang).
Zamling Chisang
June 26 Universal Incense Offering Day. Picnic, sing, and dance in the park. U-Tsang.
Choekor Duchen
July 15 Commemorates the Buddha’s first teaching.
Buddha Exhibition
July 18-19 Giang thangka painting unveiling. Amdo.
Gaden Thangka Unveiling
July 25 A giant thangka painting is hung at Gaden Monastery. Lhasa.
Jekundo Horse Race
July 25-28 Horse & yak racing, dancing, singing, and games. Kham.
Litang Horse Race
Aug 1-5 Horse & yak racing, dancing, singing, and games. Kham.
Repkong Shaman Festival
Aug 1-10 Worship of local mountain gods, comedy skits, and skin piercings. Amdo.
Shoton Yogurt Festival
Aug 10-15 Picnics and operas are held in parks, particularly under the trees at Norbulingka. Bonfires at night. Lhasa.
Nagchu Horse Race
Aug 10-16 Horse & yak racing, dancing, singing, and games. U-Tsang.
Lhabab Duchen
Oct 29 Festival observing the descent of Buddha from heaven.
Palden Lhamo Festival
Nov 21 A float of Tibet’s protector deity Palden Lhamo is paraded through the city.
Gaden Nga Choe
Dec 1 Memorial for Tsongkhapa. Buddhists light lamps, make offerings, and pray.