Festivals in Tibet 2017-2018-2019

They are many important festivals in Tibet. A few of the most important festivals in Tibet are, the Tibetan new year, Saga Dawa festival, Shoton Festival, and horse racing festivals. 

1. One of the biggest festivals in Tibet is Saga Dawa (Tibetan Lunar month April each year) This is the month Buddha Shakyamuni came to our world, ordained, enlightened, and reach the state of Parinirvana. During this month, many Tibetans from different regions of Tibet will come to Lhasa for pilgrimage doing kora, chanting the mantra, prostration, and many other spiritual deeds. Each Year, Saga Dawa happens at the end of May or mid-June. For more information on Saga Dawa festival dates, check below at this blog. 

2. Yogurt Festival (Also known as Shoton Festival in the Tibetan language) This festival is also the second-largest festival and it will be the festival that gathers many Tibetans from a remote area to Lhasa for a blessing at Drepung and Sera monastery with the biggest Thangka of Buddha’s and Tibetan opera dance at Norbulingka Palace. On this day, many Tibetans will wake very early in the morning around 2-3 am to visit Drepung on a line for blessings from the biggest wall Thangka of present Buddha Shakyamuni and after visiting Sera Monastery for blessings from wall Thangka of future Buddha Gyalwa Jampa ( Maitreya), after getting the blessings from both 2 important monasteries, local Tibetans will spend time at Norbulingka for a picnic and enjoy the Tibetan opera dance. 

3. Horse racing festivals in Gyantse and Nakchu. Horse culture is decreasing and it is a very sad thing, still one of the best horse racing in Tibet is at Litang Kham region, they still preserve very beautiful strong horses and it is listed that highest horse racing is happening in Litang region, another horse racing festival is at Gyantse and Nakchu region. For more information on the exact date, please check below for festivals for 2017.