Tibetan Festivals:

Tibetan New Year-Losar :
In ancient times when the peach tree blossom, it was considered as the starting of a new year. Since the systematization of the Tibetan calendar in 1027 A.D., the first day of the first month became fixed as the new year or Losar. On the Tibetan New Year's Day, each home will open its door with prayers and fetch the first bucket of water of the year. People will greet each other with well-meaning wishes- "Tashi Deleg". Losar is a colorful week of activities including Tibetan drama, pilgrims making incense offerings and other folk activities such as wrestling, weight throwing, tug-of-war and horse-racing. Tibetans dressed in their finest crowding the streets. It brings together family from far & near for prayer and celebration.

The Festival of Banishing Evils:
falls on December 29 on the Tibetan calendar (pre-New year Eve) Similar expressions are found in ethnic celebrations around the world with a theme of driving away evil spirits. On that day, a sorcerer's dance is performed in monasteries and a general cleaning is done in every household to get rid of misfortune and pray for godly blessings. Every family will have a traditional New Year's Eve dinner of Guthuk and torches are lit and howling are heard everywhere in a collective prayer for a new year free from misfortunes.

The Great Prayer Festival:
The Great Prayer Festival of Lhasa, from January 8 through 14 on the Tibetan calendar, is the grandest religious festival in Tibet. It has its origin in a prayer meeting organized at Jokhang Temple by Tsong Khapa, founder of the Gelukpa Sect, in 1409. Thousands of monks from far and near will gather for prayers, theological debates and examination for Geshe, a doctoral degree in Buddhist theology, at the temple. Pilgrims will come from everywhere to listen to sermons.

The Butter lamp Festival:
The Butter lamp Festival falls on January 15 of the Tibetan calendar, which has its origin in a celebration with many butter lamps to honor the victory of Sakyamuni in a debate against Heretics. During the festive celebration, Barkhor Street in Lhasa is crowded with people and by nightfall is brightly lit with thousands of lamps made of butter in an intriguing assortment of designs. The festive mood lasts throughout the night.


Saga Dawa on April 15 of Tibetan calendar:
Saga Dawa on April 15 of Tibetan calendar is the auspicious day coinciding with three important events of Buddha -Birth, Nirvana (transcendence) and Parinirvana (death). It is holiest month and believe that all good deeds/virtue or prayers are multiplied many thousand fold. In Tibet or Lhasa in particular, almost everyone join in circumambulating round the City and spend their late afternoon on picnic at " Dzongyab Lukhang" park at the foot of Potala. In General most people observe a vegetarian rule, refrain from killing domestic animals and give out alms during the month.

Gyantse Horse Race & Archery:
Horse race and archery are generally popular in Tibet and Gyantse enjoys prestige of being the earliest in history by starting in 1408. The king of Gyangtse gave a decree marking the period from April 10 through 27 of Tibetan calendar, every year for prayers and sacrificial ceremony for his grandfather with entertainment offered on the 28th. By the mid-17th century, original ritual ceremonies became symbolic and contests of archery on horseback grew to be the most important events for the festival. Nowadays, with all kinds of entertainment and fairs organized it has become one of the most important festivals in Tibet.


Tashilumpo Buddha-Unfolding Festival:
Tashilumpo Buddha-Unfolding Festival at Tashilumbu Temple was created by the first Dalai Gengdu Zhuma some 150 years ago. The festival lasts for three days. Different portraits of Buddha are exhibited each day. They are hand-embroidered on silk or satin. The Buddha-unfolding Festival is an important religious activity at Tashilunpo Temple for scripture chanting, prayer for rain and also a joyous festival for masses in rear Tibet.

Chökor Duchen Festival:
Chökor Duchen Festival, held in Lhasa around August-September, celebrates Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath near Varanasi.

Bathing Festival:
Bathing Festival (September-October) sees locals washing away the grime of the previous years in river;

Lhabab Düchen :
Lhabab Düchen (November-December) commemorates Buddha's descent from heaven.

Changtang Chachen Horse Race Festival:
As the most important festival in North Tibet during the golden season on the grassland, thousand of herdsmen /nomads throng in Nakchu, riding fine horses, and carrying the local products. The events feature horse race, horsemanship and archery. Songs and dance troupes from all parts of Tibet join together to add flair.

Shoton Festival:
It is the opera festival and one of the grandest festivals in Tibet. In ancient times pious folks went into mountain hermitages for penance, and on the last day of which Yogurt was served for meal followed by entertainment of folk songs and daces. In course of period, Tibetan local opera was added to this otherwise exclusively religious event. From the beginning of the 18th century, the main site of the festival was moved to Norbu Lingka and celebrations became formalized which include shining of the Buddha's portrait, folk amusement at the local park and performances of Tibetan operas. Popular fairs are also organized during the festival.

Harvest Festival( around September):
The farmers in Lhasa, Gyantse and Shangnan to celebrate their harvest. During that time, people enjoy with horse racing games, costume fashion show, songs and dance
Archery and picnic etc.

Bathing Week ( September):
It is believed when the sacred planet Venus appears in the sky, the water in the river becomes purest to cure illness and get rid of misfortune. During its appearance for one week in the sky, Tibetans will bathe all day long at the river side.

Kongpo Traditional Festival (November of December):
Long ago, when Tibet was in danger of large scale invasion, the Kongpo people sent out an army to defend their homeland. The people fearing that they would miss Losar or the new year celebration, proponed it and celebrated the losar before the time for the sake of the soldiers. This tradition continued every year and till date and like the losar, Kongpo festival is celebrated with feast, entertainment, horse race and archery.

Nakchu Horse Race Festival:
Nakchu Horse Race Festival: As the most important festival in North Tibet during the golden season on the grassland, thousands of herdsmen throng to Nakchu riding fine horses, and carrying the local products. They form a city of tents south of Nakchu town. There will be thrilling horse race, archery and demonstrations of horsemanship. Song and dance groups from all parts of Tibet will add to the fun.

According to a Tibetan myth, the gods will descend from the heaven on the 22nd of the ninth month of the Tibetan calendar every year. All monasteries will be open on this day to the needy and prayers and sutra chants will be given.

Tsong Khapa's Festival:
Tsong Khapa's Festival, falling on the 15th of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar, marks the anniversary of the passing away of Tsong Khapa, the founder of Gelukpa Sect, died on this day in 1419 and is called Ganden Angchuin in Tibetan. In Menory of the day every house hold burns countless butter lamps on roof tops and chant prayers in his honor, late in the evening, Tibetan dumpling is served for supper.

Yarlung Culture Festival:
Yarlung Culture Festival is an important part not only of Tibetan culture but also of the World's. The festival is a combination of both art and economy, which displays the old brilliance and the new expectations at the same time. It provides colorful activities as national sports contests, singing, dancing, Tibetan Opera, ethnic costume shows and trade fairs.