Origin of Wangkor Festival

Wangkor Festival is a festival to celebrate harvest for Tibetans. It is held in July or August in Tibetan calendar. It is said that the Wangkor Festival has over 1500 years' history until now,

Origin of Wangkor Festival

According to legends, as early as the end of 5th century, Tibetans in Yarlung District started to build water channels and use wooden plough. The agriculture at that time was developed. In order to ensure harvest, Tibetan King consulted the master of Bon Religion. Based on the doctrine of Bon Religion, the master asked farmers to circumambulate fields. The persons who hold censer and hold high prayer flags will lead the way. Then, the master of Bon Religion who hold high the wooden stick which is wrapped up with Hada and the right leg of sheep will lead villagers who are holding tassels of barley to circumambulate fields for several times. Then, they will stick various ears of crop on granary or baldachine to pray for good weather and harvest. At that time, Tibetans who are in colorful Tibetan robes and with colorful bands on waist will respectfully hold high the harvest pagoda which was made up of barley tassels and with white Hada on it to circumambulate fields while beating drums and clanging gongs and singing songs to pray for harvest. After that, they will have a bumper picnic. After the Wangkor Festival, Tibetans will start the autumn harvest. To celebrate the "Wangkor Festival" which is aimed at harvest is the happiest thing for farmers in Tsang Prefecture. In Tibetan Language, the "Wang" in Wangkor Festival means "fields", and "kor" means "circumambulation. Hence, the "Wangkor Festival" is to sing songs and dance around fields.

The sacrifice rite of Wangkor Festival in farming area of Tibet was very simple before middle of 8th century. Until the later half of 8th century, when Gelug Sect was set up, the Wangkor Festival was added with religious color. It formed a series of complete happy activities about religious rite. From this time on, the Wangkor Festival which is aimed at celebrate harvest was listed as formal festival in Tibetan farming area. The time of Wangkor Festival in Tsang varies with the mature of barley. The length and scale of the scale are based on the economic strength of each country. The activities of Wangkor Festival can be held by a country or several countries.

"Wangkor" is the transliteration of Tibetan Language. It means "circumambulation around fields". In the morning of the first day of Wangkor Festival, when golden fields are covered by sunshine, farmers will circumambulate fields by holding barley tassels on their hands. The front of the queue is the honor guard which consists of Lamas and old farmers. They hold high statue of Buddha, chant scripture and blow religious horn to thank God for good weather and harvest. For farmers who had worked hard for the whole year, they are so happy to see the mature crops and smell the fragrance of crops. They will sing the old songs about harvest to celebrate.