Tibet Festival - Celebration of Nagqu Horse Racing Festival

Nagqu Horse Racing Festival is the most royal traditional Tibet festivals in Northern Tibet. The celebration of this festival would be held on August 1 and lasts about 5 to 15 days. Tourists who want to explore the real traditional culture of Tibet could make a Tibet festival tour during the Nagqu Horse Racing Festival.

Celebration of Nagqu Horse Racing Festival – Traditional Activities

Local Tibetans would dress on their best festival clothes and collect at the horse racing field during the Nagqu Horse Racing Festival. They would also bring their traditional food, such as barley wine and yoghourt. Besides, the tent with beautiful patterns is also a necessary for the festival. In a word, Nagqu Horse Racing Festival presents a scene of jubilation since the Tibetans would celebrate the festival with joyous singing and dancing.

There are many competition games during Nagqu Horse Racing Festival, including horse racing, archery and equestrianism. The weight lifting, push-and-pull, and recitation of Gesar (a widely spread heroic epic of Tibetans) have been added into the celebration of Nagqu Horse Racing Festival.

The most important program for the celebration of Nagqu Horse Racing Festival is the horse racing. The horseman would show would circle around the giant incense-burn set to show their respect to the Buddha and accept the blessing of the lamas. The audiences would also acclaim for the horseman and his horse. The name of the horse which takes the crown of the Nagqu Horse Racing Festival would be widely spread among Tibetans.

Celebration of Nagqu Horse Racing Festival – Newly Developed Activities

The best season to tour to Nagqu is between May and September. It is sunny and temperate with green grasslands and vivifying livestock during this period. To welcome the visitors during the Nagqu Horseracing Festival, special activities were added into the celebration. Tourists could enjoy the opening and closing ceremony show and join the Tibetan dancing so as to celebrate the festival with local Tibetans together and experience their enthusiasm.

Tourists who make a Tibet festival tour during the Nagqu Horse Racing Festival could appreciate the characteristic celebration in the day and join the celebration in the night so as to experience the festival atmosphere. The Tibetan girls and boys would search their desirable lover in the bonfire party. It is very funny to take part in the bonfire party and dance with the Tibetans.