CELEBRATE AND WORSHIP
The annual calendar of Tibetans is a lunisolar one, and counts 12 lunar months. This calendar guides the many annual festivals celebrated in Tibet. Most of these have a spiritual basis, but local traditions and customs also give rise to a festival. The most important is Losar, when the country locks its doors to celebrate the New Year - after a period of cleaning houses and preparing festive meals - singing, dancing and making music.
Another great festival is the Shoton festival, also known as the yogurt festival. Every year in August, it celebrates the conclusion of the monks' meditation period with dramatic operas, yak races, horse races, dancing and... the eating of yogurt. It takes place in Lhasa and, unlike Losar, is open to travelers.
The Thangka festival has been of great importance to Tibetan Buddhists for 500 years. During the three days it lasts, a Thangka - a Buddhist effigy on a giant canvas - is displayed by the Tashilhunpo monastery in Shigatse to be unveiled and worshipped.
Ongkor is a meaningful festival that marks the end of summer and celebrates the hope of a good harvest. You can feast your ears and eyes during this festival; it is celebrated with traditional Tibetan dress, singing, dancing, horse races and archery.
Fans of equestrian sports visit Tibet in July and August. That is when days of horse festivals with horse races take place in Gyantse and Nagqu, and there is extensive singing, dancing, eating and drinking.
Please contact us to have your trip through Tibet completely customized so that we can tailor your program to the festivals you would like to attend.