Ngari Tour – Wonderful and Impressive Entertainments

In Ngari Prefecture, there are several interesting entertainments, such as Gar Qiaqing Festival, religious dance and performance of Tibetan Opera.

Ngari Tour – Gar Qaqing Festival

At first, Gar Qiaqing Festival started on July 12th in Tibetan Calendar and ended on July 16th in Tibetan Calendar. Later, more and more Indian and Ladake merchants came to Ngari during Gar Qiaqing Festival. With the increasing of trading, the government changed the period of Gar Qiaqing Festival to the period from August 1st to August 8th for the convenience of collecting tax.

On August 1st, the players from every district, nearby farmers and herdsmen who want to enjoy performances and merchants from everywhere will reach Gar Yasa and choose a site to put up their tents. At that time, there are green grasses and various wild flowers on Gar Yasa Grassland. The cold and windy weather also becomes more temperate and pleasant. The period of Gar Qiaqing Festival is the golden season of Gar Yasa. Every corner of Gar Yasa is beaming with happy festival atmosphere.

In the forenoon of August 2nd, there is symbolic horse race training. The number of players with bow and horse is 115, and the number of players with spear and horse is 75. The shooting competition will be held in the forenoon of August 4th. On August 3rd, the horse race will start. On August 5th and August 6th, they will have two days' official meeting. On August 7th and August 8th, they will hold two days' banquet. In the evening of August 8th, they will hold a bonfire party in front of the big tent of Garmu Dongxiong. After the party, the Gar Qiaqing Festival in this year will end in the sound of praising gods.

Ngari Tour – Religious Dance

Religious dance is a kind of dance performed by Lamas and monks on the religious ceremony in Monasteries. This kind of dance can be divided into single dance, double dance and group dance. When dance, monks will wear mask, robe, colorful knife and shield. The accompaniment instruments include cymbals, cow horns, surnai, etc.

Ngari Tour – Performances of Tibetan Opera

There was no Tibetan Opera Troupe in Pulan County. Before Liberation, some attendants of the master from Lhasa and Tsang could performance Tibetan Opera. Later, Tibetan Opera also spread in Ngari. The performance of Tibetan Opera in Ngari mainly focuses on singing. It is accompanied by drum and cymbals. There is less dialogue in the performance. The tone of Tibetan Opera is very high, and the rhythm of dance is very beautiful. When perform Tibet Opera, actors will make up the face, but do not wear masks. The actors will dress robe and tie a belt on waist, while actresses wearing Tibetan Dress. The stage of Tibetan Opera most is grass land. When perform, the actors will perform in center while onlookers standing around them. The performance of Tibetan Opera will be one day, or six, seven days. The harvest season, July in Tibetan Calendar, is the season of performing Tibetan Opera. The Tibetan Opera in Ngari mainly performed in Kegya Monastery and Xiepeilin Monastery.