Celebration of Tibetan Bathing Festival

In the first half month of July, , there is a mass bathing activity on bank of Lhasa River from city to countryside, from farming area to pasturing area. That's annual Tibetan Bathing Festival. It will last for one week. The celebration of Tibetan Bathing Festival includes various activities.

Celebration of Tibetan Bathing Festival

From the beginning of Tibetan Bathing Festival, no matter in sunny days or cloudy days, all people regardless of age and sex both in farming area and pasturing area will have bath and have fun in river to wash out the dirt. At the same time, they will wash out things in their family which need to be washed, such as Pulu, carpet, rug, cushion, etc. it is the time for Tibetans to welcome the auspicious coming year, pray for regeneration or heath and face more beautiful life.

During Tibetan Bathing Festival, Tibetans will go to the bank of Lhasa River in groups of three and four. They will have bath and play on the wide shoal. In general, Tibetans will go to have bath in Lhasa River every day during Tibetan Bathing Festival. But they will wash very carefully on the first day. After that, they will only wet their hair and feet. On the seven day of Bathing Festival, they will wash carefully again.

During Tibetan Bathing Festival, the whole family will go to nearby river bank or lake bank to put up tents in shade, pave carpet and set up pot an stove. It is like a temporary house. Tibetans will prepare rich foods and drinks to entertain guests and friends. They will have a joyous gathering during the Bathing Festival.

The main activity in Bathing Festival is to have bath. The snow water from high mountains passed by hillside fields which were covered by many precious herbs is with effective ingredients of these precious herbs and becomes natural bath foam with functions of cleaning, disinfection and health care.

When Tibetan Bathing Festival start, old people will wash hair and scrub on the bank; young people will jump into water to swim and wash; children will gather in water to play; and women will also jump into water to have bath. In the seven days, people not only washed out themselves, but also many articles in their house.

In Bathing Festival, Tibetans will take barley wine, butter tea, tsamba and other festival foods with them. After having bath in river, they will eat these foods while chanting on the bank. Some of them will swing in the river; some of them will dance on the river bank; and some of them will sing songs. Furthermore, Tibetans will dry up their clothes, quilts and other things on the river bank after washing in the river. The river bank is also decorated with colorful things.

During Tibetan Bathing Festival, Tibetans will go out very early in the morning and go back very late at night. This kind of bathing activity will reach climate when Qishan Star appears in July. When the Qishan Star disappears, the bathing activity also ends. The whole Tibetan bathing Festival lasts for one week.