Tibet Festival Calendar – Brief Introduction of Shoton Festival

Shoton Festival is one of the most noted festivals on the Tibet festival calendar for overseas tourists. It is also regarded as the most solemn Tibet festival by local Tibetans. Generally, Shoton Festival would be celebrated at the end of June according to Tibetan calendar.

Tibet Festival Calendar – Source of Shoton Festival

Shoton Festival is the most ancient Tibet festival on the Tibet festival calendar which could be dated back to the middle of 11th century. It was originally an unalloyed religious festival. The civilians would present yoghurt to the Buddhists completed the religious self-discipline. Since the second half of 17th century, Shoton Festival developed to a festival integrates the religious activities and recreational activities together. The Tibetan opera joint performance and Buddha exhibition play important in the celebration of Shoton Festival. Hence, it is also called Tibetan Opera Festival and Buddha Exhibition Festival.

The local government of Tibet Autonomous Region attached great importance to the celebration of Shoton Festival since 1994. The celebration of Shoton Festival has integrated the artistic performance, sports competition, recreational activities and business arrangements together. It enjoys high reputation among foreign tourists. Noted as the most ancient Tibet festival on the Tibet festival calendar, Shoton Festival attracts a large quantity of tourists here to experience the festal atmosphere every year.

Tibet Festival Calendar – Important Activities of Shoton Festival

As the opening ceremony of the celebration of Shoton Festival, the Buddha Exhibition of Drepung Monastery attracts a lot of attention from the local Tibetans and the tourists both at home and abroad. Numerous devout followers of Tibetan Buddhism would prostrate themselves in worship with the opening of the giant Thangka of Buddha. Tourists visit Tibet during the celebration of Shoton Festival would have the chance to witness the most magnificent religious ceremony.

Tourists who learned some Tibet festival culture would find that the Shoton Festival is also noted as Tibetan Opera Festival on Tibet festival calendar. People would move to Norbu Lingka to enjoy the Tibetan opera performance after the Buddha exhibition in Drepung Monastery. Numerous Tibetan opera performers from various regions of Tibet would collect at Norbu Lingka and present their best performance for the celebration of Shoton Festival.