| Festivals of Tibet |
Remarks |
Date |
Duration |
Tibetan new year
( Losar ) |
Losar is celebrated in homes and with friends, eating special food and drinking jugs of barley chang. On the first day pilgrims go to pay homage to the most sacred statue of Sakya Muni in Jokhang temple and burning incense all around Jokhang as well as at all Tibetan homes. Every one dresses in his/her finest closthes to do holy circuit around monasteries and temples. |
7 Feb |
15 |
| Great prayer ( Mon lam Chenmo ) |
Was founded in in 1409 by Tsong Khapa to celebrate the miracles performed by Buddha at Sravasti in India, Molam is greatest religious event of the year. In the former times over 10 thousand monks from Drepung, Sera and Ganden monasteries would come to gather in Jokhang temple for the event. This festivel still continues in large nos of monks in Labrang and Rongwo Gon Chen monasteries in Amdo although this festivel in Lhasa is held in Jokhang temple in fewer nos of monk. |
10 Feb |
8 |
| Saga Dawa |
Celebrating the enlightenment of Buddha and his attainment of Nirvana upon his death. Tens of thousands of Tibetan pilgrims crowd to do the sacred circuit around Jokhang and old Lhasa city known as Linkor. |
18 June |
1 |
| Tashilunpo Thangka ( Gegu ) |
The huge Gegu ( embroidered thangka ) displayed in Tashilunpo monastery in Shigatse and thousands of pilgrims flock there to touch their foreheads to the sacred Thangka in order to be blessed. |
16 July |
2 |
| Universal incense offering ( Dzam Ling Chisang ) |
Commemoration of Guru Rimpoche subduing the obstructive deities and spirits in Tibet and converting them to protectors of Buddhism, in preparation for the founding of Samye, The very first Buddhist monastery in Tibet. Tibetans burn incense offerings to these deities all over Tibet. |
18 July |
1 |
| Samye monastic opera ( Cham ) |
Monks at Samye monastery perform the religious dances by wearing interesting masks. Thousands of pilgrims go there for the special occation. |
16 July |
5 |
Tashilunpo monastic opera
( Cham ) |
Monks at Tashilunpo monastery perform the ritual dances by wearing Buddhist masks. |
2 Oct |
4 |
| Palkhor Chode monastic opera ( Cham ) |
Monks at Palkhor Chode monastery in Gyangtse perform the ritual dances by wearing Buddhist masks. Hundreds of Tibetans flock there for the special yearly occation. |
18 – 19 June |
2 |
| Palkhor Chode Thangka ( Gegu ) |
The huge Gegu ( embroidered thangka ) displayed in Tashilunpo monastery in Gyangtse and thousands of pilgrims flock there to touch their foreheads to the sacred Thangka in order to be blessed. |
21 June |
1 |
Ganden Thangka
( Gegu ) |
The huge Gegu ( embroidered thangka ) displayed in Ganden monastery in Kyi Chu valley and thousands of pilgrims go there to touch their foreheads to the sacred Thangka in order to be blessed and having their lunch picnic in the vicinity if the monastery. |
16 Aug |
1 |
Yogurt festivel
( Shodon ) at Drepung |
The huge Gegu ( embroidered thangka ) displayed in Drepung monastery in Lhasa and thousands of pilgrims go there to touch their foreheads to the sacred Thangka in order to be blessed. This Yogurt festivels operas also begins there in the monastery courtyard. Tibetans flock in Norbulinka ( the summer palace of the Dalai Lama ) to start their summer picnic. |
30 Aug |
1 |
Yogurt festivel
Opera at Norbulinka |
A week long summer picnic is held at Norbulinka ( Summer palace ) by Tibetans and the picnic is accompanied by a historical and interesting Tibetan opera for the first 3days. Summer palace fills with the melody of happiness. |
31 Aug |
3 |
Ganden Thangka
( Gegu ) |
Thousands of butter lamps and candles are lit on the roof monasteries, temples and Tibetan homes to commemorate the death and the entry in to Nirvana of Tsong Kha pa, the founder of Ganden monastery and the Gelugpa sect.
The huge Gegu ( embroidered thangka ) displayed in Ganden monastery in Kyi Chu valley and thousands of pilgrims go there to touch their foreheads to the sacred Thangka in order to be blessed. |
21 Dec |
1 |
| Gyangtse horse racing ( Tagyuk ) |
The biggest festival in Gyangtse, with horse racing festival, Yak races, and ritual dances
( Cham ) at the monastery. |
10 June |
3 |
Labrang Thangka
( Gegu ), Amdo |
The immense silk appliqué Gegu displayed in Labrang monastery in Amdo and thousands of pilgrims from all over Amdo region flock in Labrang for the special occation. |
19 Feb |
1 |
| Labrang monastic opera ( Cham ) |
Monks at Labrang monastery perform the ritual dances by wearing Buddhist masks. Hundreds of Tibetans flock there for the special ceremony. |
20 Feb |
1 |
| Labrang monastic butter sculptures exbit |
Beautifully hand made butter sculptures are displayed at night with lights in Labrang monastery. Pilgrims in long rows to see the beauty and to gain blessings. |
21 Feb |
1 |
Sacred circuit around Labrang monastery with Maitraiya statue
( Future Buddha ) |
A tall Maitraiya statue accompanied many other sacred statues of the monastery, thousands of monks and Tibetan pilgrims do the holy circuit around the monastery, ( praying for the arrival of the future Buddha on earth ) |
22 Feb |
1 |
| Sacred circuit around Labrang monastery with the most sacred relics. |
All the most sacred relics of Labrang monastery accompanied by thousands of monks and Tibetan pilgrims do the holy ciruit around the monastery. |
15 Mar |
1 |
| Summer picnic in Labrang. |
Summer picnic is celebrated in the nomadic grass lands of Sangke. Those pure, clear grass lands are dotted with colorful Tibetan tents and filled with sounds of joy. |
13 July |
7 |
| Labrang monastic opera ( Cham summer ) |
Monks at Labrang monastery perform the ritual dances by wearing Buddhist masks. Hundreds of Tibetans flock there for the special ceremony. |
20 Aug |
1 |
| Horse racing festival at Labrang Sangke grass land |
This is a special ceremony held by the nomads of Sangke including mainly horse race, Yak race and wrestling. |
14 Aug |
1 |
| Labrang monastic opera ( Cham winter ) |
Monks at Labrang monastery perform the ritual dances by wearing Buddhist masks. Hundreds of Tibetans flock there for the special ceremony. |
27 Oct |
1 |
| Kangding horse racing festival |
This is a special ceremony held by the nomads of Kangding of Kham-region including mainly horse race, Yak race and wrestling. |
30 June |
3 |
| Kyiku Do horse racing festival |
This is a special ceremony held by the nomads of Golok of Amdo including mainly horse race, Yak race and wrestling. |
25 July |
3 |
| Lithang horse racing festival |
|
1 Aug |
6 |
