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 Tibetan
New Year
(Losar) -
Nation wide, February/March
Tibet's most
important festival officially is three days but
traditionally lasts for nearly two weeks. It is marked with
family celebrations and much picnicking, During the final
days of the Tibetan Year, monks craft beautiful butter and
tsampa sculptures called torma. They depict religious scenes
and deities and are displayed in chapels where they will
remain until the following Losar.
Great Prayer Festival
(Monlam
Chembo) - Lhasa, February/March
Just after the Tibetan New Year, this festival was held
annually until it was suspended in 1959. Monks travel from
Drepung, sera and Ganden to Lhasa's Jhokhang to chant,
listen to a sermon by the Dalai Lama and to debate religious
doctrine. Many sat for examinations to earn high degrees. It
may be revived in the near future.
 Butter
Lamp Festival
(Chenga Chuba) - Lhasa, February/March
Celebrated as part of the Great Prayer Festival, its
highlight is the Jhokhang monastery's display of huge
intricately carved butter sculptures on the fifteenth day of
the first Tibetan month. Thousands of butter lamps are lit
in side and outside Jhokhang and laymen pass through to pay
their respects to the Buddha.
Buddha's Birthday
(Saga Dawa) - Nationwide, May/June
In memory of the Buddha's birth and enlightenment,
Tibetan pilgrims carry offerings of food and money to
monasteries throughout the fourth Tibetan month.
 Gyantse
Horse Racing and Archery
(Gyantse Dhamma) - Gyantse, May/June
Tibetans
are noted for their excellent horsemanship. This festival
celebrates their marksmanship while riding at full tilt. On
the first day, monks perform a masked dance in Kumbum
courtyard, On the succeeding four days, Tibetans erect tents
and enjoy picnics. among the competitions, horsemen gallop
at full speed, leaning down to snatch katas (ceremonial
scarfs) which have been placed at intervals along the
ground, Horse-borne archers shoot arrows at stationary
targets.
Samye Dholdhe Taji Festival
- Samye, June
Pilgrims and monks from distant monasteries journey to
Samye to watch masked dances and obtain the blessing of
Buddha who descends to earth bringing peace and happiness.
World Incense Day
(Zabling
Sang) - Nationwide, June/July
This day is dedicated to praying for peace in the world
Pilgrims carry money and incense to temples and climb holy
mountain notably Gebuzi, behind Drepung Monastery and
Chaksamchari, near the Chusul Bridge on the way to the
airport.
Ganden Thangka Festival
(Ganden
Kyikhor) - Ganden, July
In memory of the enlightenment of Tsongkhapa, Ganden's
monks hang and enormous thangka from the special wall at the
northern corner of the monastery where it can be seen from
the surrounding countryside, Chanting prayers to the
accompaniment of the long copper and brass horns (dtongji),
they honour the founder of the Gelugpa sect.
Six-Four Festival
(Tupa Sishi)
- Lhasa and Xigatse, July/ August
The name refers to the fourth day of the sixth month of
the Tibetan calendar when, long ago, Buddha is said to have
come to earth to help people. The day both honours his
selflessness and expresses the hope that he will return. In
Lhasa, Buddhists make a Tsekhor or Lingkhor circuit, burning
incense along the way
Yogurt Festival
(Shutun) or
the Tibetan Opera Festival - Lhasa, August/September
Celebrated at Drepung and in Ganden where the festival
begins at down when monks hang a huge thangka from the
monastery wall for all to see. The highlight occurs when
monks perform a masked dance, a form of opera, to drive away
evil spirits. Traditionally, Lhasa residents go boating on
the Lukhang Lake Park behind the Potala or pitch picnic
tents in the Norbulingka.
Damchung Horse Races
- Damchung (near Namtso Yumco, 170 km 160 miles north of
Lhasa), September
A
one-week horse racing and archery competition similar to
that held at Gyantse
Nagju Horse Races
- Nagju (330
km 205 miles west of Lhasa), September
Lasting one week, it is celebrated in a manner similar
to that of the Gyantse horse racing and archery celebration.
 Bathing
Week
(Karma Jurva) - Lhasa, August/September
Lhasans flock to the waters of the Kyi Chu River during this
festival which means literally "Changing of the Stars" in
the belief that if they bathe all week, they will drive evil
spirits from their bodies and enjoy good health in the
following year. Tents are pitched on the riverbank while
revellers picnic and dance.
Death of Tsongkhapa
(Shichu
Ngachu) - Nationwide, November/December
In memory
of Tsongkhapa, Buddhists pray early in the morning at the
monasteries on the 24th and 25th day of the 10th Tibetan
month. In the evening, they eat a special king of thukpa
which represents sadness. Monks illuminate the exteriors of
their monasteries and families place lighted yak butter
lamps on the window sills or roofs of their houses.
Driving Off Evil Spirits
(Lu Yugpa) - Lhasa and Xigatse, February/March
After a morning of chanting, monks carry tsampa models
of evil spirits in procession to the monastery forecourt
where the images are burned, while the monks chant loudly to
drive away the evil spirits. |
