Tibet Festival – Lingka Festival

Lingka Festival is a traditional Tibet festival. Lingka Festival means "worship Buddha day" in Tibetan. Generally, the festival would be celebrated between May and September.

Lingka Festival in Lhasa Area

The Lingka Festival in Lhasa would be celebrated in May 15th according to the Tibetan calendar. On this day, Tibetans would dress on their costumes and bring their food to spend their festival day in the lingkas in Lhasa. Lingka means garden in Tibetan.

Tibetans would pitch up the white tent with blue auspicious patterns in the gardens. Some of them would fence up a green space with a colorful curtain. Then they would set up their cooking ranges and rugs in their space. People would share the Tibetan style desserts, dishes and drinks with their family members and friends.

Various recreational and entertainment activities would be held on Lingka Festival. To celebrate the festival and share their happiness, Tibetans would sing and dance day and night. They would also play Tibetan poker, shake the elbows and enjoy the Tibetan opera, as well as play some other local games. The traditional culture and the modern entertainment integrated harmoniously on the Lingka Festival.

Lingka Festival in Shigatse Area

The Lingka Festival would be celebrated on June 1st in Shigatse area. On this day, the farmers and the herdsman, as well as the Tibetans in the cities and towns would collect in Gonggyue Lingka. Magnificent and solemn garden party would be held. All the gardens around here would be crowded with tents. People here would be immersed in the festal atmosphere with singing and dancing. Tourists make a Tibet festival tour during the Lingka Festival could enjoy a different festal atmosphere.

It is said that the Lingka Festival in Shigatse was originated from Master Padmasambhava. He cultivated himself in a cave for more than 1 year when he came to Tibet to spread the Buddhism from India. Later, in honor of Padmasambhava, the male Tibetans would ride a horse to the cave to worship him and their families would wait for them in the gardens with delicious food. This day developed into Lingka Festival gradually.

Tibetans in Nyingchi and Qamdo area would camp in the forests with their tents and food so as to celebrate the Lingka Festival every summer. They would ride or trek to their campsite. The camping would last for several days.