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.
| 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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