Tibet Festivals

Tibetan Festivals are directly rooted to ancestral cultural traditions and the methods of celebrating vary from place to place. Tibetan Festivals are traditionally held throughout the lunar calendar. The lunar calendar is calculated each year by astrologers from Mentse Khang (Tibetan Traditional Medicine Centre) and is based on a cycle of 60 years, each of which is named after a combination of one of 12 animals and one of five elements. Normally, a year contains 12 months, but the removal or addition of an extra month for astrological reasons is not uncommon. The table below lists the major festivals in Tibet and their dates. In short, through these festivals, the Tibetan people are able to celebrate their connection with both Buddhism and Nature. Festivals also provide an opportunity for Tibetans to showcase their hardy and sincere personalities, display their ethnical affinities and demonstrate their steady economic and social progress. Festivals are an outstanding way for the traveler to experience a colorful cultural immersion into the traditions and customs of the Tibetan people.

Tibet Festival Schedule
Name of the Festival Location 2010
Tibetan New Year (Losar) Almost all Tibet 14-Feb
Monlam Prayer Festival Lhasa 17-Feb
Butter Oil Lantern Festival Almost all Tibet 28-Feb
Saga Dawa Almost all Tibet 27-May
Gyantse Horse Racing Festival (Gyantse Damag) Gyantse May 27-May 30
Tashi Lhunpo Thangka Display Shigatse 26-Jun
Zamling Chisang / Samye Dolde Samye Monastery 26-Jun
Chokor Duchen Festival Almost all Tibet 15-Jul
Ganden Thangka Display Ganden Monastery 25-Jul
Shoton Festival Lhasa Aug 10-Aug 15
Nachu Horse Racing Nachu Aug10-Aug 16
Lhabab Duchen Festival Almost all Tibet 29-Oct
Palden Lhamo Festival Lhasa 21-Nov
Ganden Ngacho Almost all Tibet 1-Dec
Labrang Monlam Festival Amdo, Labrang 17-Aug
Lithang Horse Racing Festival (Not available) Lithang Aug 01 –Aug 03
Jye Kundo (Yushu) Horse Racing Festival Yushu 25-Jul

 

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