Tibetan Group Tours - Tibetan Festivals

There are one or two festivals or usual practices almost in every month in Tibet. Whenever you join a Tibet group tour, you may meet some Tibetan festivals. The traditional festivals and activities are colorful and inspiring. Tourists need to have an understanding of the main festivals and activities.

Tibetan New Year

Tibetan calendar is one of the Chinese famous astronomical chronicles.The beginning of the era is calculated by the five elements of the traditional Chinese calendar and twelve Chinese zodiac signs with 60 years a round, 3 years a bissextile. The Tibetan new year usually begins from the first day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar, lasts for three to five days.

Chinese Lantern Festival

On January 15th, it is the Rogers Chinese Lantern Festival. It is originally the day of gathering for the religion followers when people make Ghee-lamps for Pilgrimage for Buddha. Later, lighthouse, lamp bracket,as well as various characters, flowers and plants, birds and beasts are added for viewing.

Badefes(Bathing Festival)

In the early July, Tibetan people will go to the river to take a bath with large group of people. People call this activity Badefes, also called Bathing Festival. Because the activity would last for about a week, it is also called Bathing Week.

Shoton Festival

In Tibetan languages, Shoton means acidophilus milk and banquet. That is to say, it is a festival to drink acidophilus milk. Now the main content of the Shoton Festival is watching joint performance of Tibetan opera. So some people call it Tibetan Opera Festival. It is hold in the late June and early July.

Horse-racing Festival

Horse racing and archery contests are popular among Tibetans. It is usually held from the late July to the early August. During the festival, the herdsmen often exchange goods with each other.

Wangguo Festival

It is a festival to celebrate harvest. It is often hold when the crops become ripe. The activities include horse racing, archery, Tibetan opera, etc.

Cattle-festival

Cattle-Festival is a unique traditional festival in Tibet. It is said that when the grass grows lush, people will drive the cattle to the hills. When autumn comes, they will drive the cattle home and put flowers on the cattle; feed them with grass and salt.