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 Tibetan
New Year (February or March) is the greatest festival in Tibet. In
ancient times, the blossoming of the peach tree was considered the start
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 .
On New Year's Day, families would gather to exchange the auspicious words
of greeting--"tashi delek."
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Saga
Dawa Festival (May or June) is the holiest festival in Tibet because
of the coincidence of Buddha's birth and Buddha's enlightenment on this
day. Almost every person in Lhasa joins in a circular walk around the
city and then spends the late afternoon at a picnic at Dzongyab Lukhang
Park at the foot of Potala.
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Gyantse
Horse Race and Archery Festival (May or June) is the most prestigious
horse race and archery contest, having hosted the first event in 1408.
In those early times, contests included the horse race, archery, and shooting
on gallop, followed by a few days of entertainment and picnicking. In
more modern times, ball games, track and field events, folk songs and
dances, and barter trade have been added to the original schedule of events.
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 Changtang
Chachen Horse Race Festival (August 10th) is the most important festival
in northern Tibet during the golden season on the grassland. Thousands
of herdsmen throng to Nakchu riding fine horses and carrying local products.
They erect a tent city south of Nakchu town. They celebrate with a thrilling
horse race, archery contests, and demonstrations of horsemanship. Song-and-dance
troupes from all parts of Tibet add to the festivity.
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Shoton
Festival (August) is the great opera festival. In ancient times, pious
folk went to mountain hermitages to do penance. On the last day of this
ritual time, they were served a meal of yogurt and entertained with folk
songs and dances. Since the seventh century, opera performances have been
held for several days at a time in Norbulingka. Presently, opera contests
last for seven days.
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Harvest
Festival (September) is a time for the farmers in Lhasa, Gyantse,
and Shangnan to celebrate the end of harvest time with horse-racing games,
archery contests, costumed fashion shows, songs and dances, and--of course--food.
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Bathing
Week (September) coincides with the appearance in the sky of Venus,
considered a sacred planet. Tibetans believe that at this time the water
in the river becomes its purest and has curative powers. Therefore, Tibetans
consider it opportune to take advantage of this one-week period each year
to bathe in the river!
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Kongpo
Traditional Festival (November or December) originated long ago at
a time when Tibet was in danger of a large-scale invasion. News of this
threat occurred during the month of September, and the soldiers worried
that they might miss the New Year celebration with its highland barley
wine and other good things. Therefore, the Kongpo people declared an early
New Year for October 1st. The festival continues to this day and memorializes
the brave soldiers who were prepared to defend their homeland and miss
the New Year celebration. The festival begins with the presentation of
three sacrifices and then continues nonstop with such entertainment as
Kongpo dancing, horse racing, archery, and shooting.
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Odds
& Ends --- Folk Festivals
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