| The most colorful and electrifying things in Tibet are its many traditional and exotic festivals which spread throughout the year with one or two of some kind for each month. These festive dates have their origins rooted in folk traditions, religious celebration or traditional activities. The festivals are often rituals, farming events, commemorations, celebrations, social gatherings or simple amusement, which reflect the historical roots of the Tibetan ethnic people, their religious belief and closeness to nature.
The Festival of Banishing Evils falls on December 29 on the Tibetan calendar. Similar expressions are found in ethnic celebrations around the world with a theme of driving away evil spirits. On that day, a sorcerer's dance is performed in monasteries and a general cleaning is done in every household to get rid of misfortune and pray for godly blessings. Every family will have a traditional New Year's Eve dinner of Guthuk and torches are lit and howling are heard everywhere in a collective prayer for a new year free from misfortunes.
On the Tibetan New Year's Day, each home will open its door with prayers and fetch the first bucket of water of the year. People will greet each other with well-meaning wishes. This is the most important festival for the Tibetans, during which they entertain themselves with various folk activities such as wrestling, weight throwing, tug-of-war and horse-racing.
The Great Prayer Festival, from January 8 through 14 on the Tibetan calendar, is the grandest religious festival in Tibet. It has its origin in a prayer meeting organized at Jokhang Temple by Tsong Khapa, founder of the Gelukpa Sect, in 1409. Thousands of monks from far and near will gather for prayers, theological debates and examination for Geshe, a doctoral degree in Buddhist theology, at the temple. Pilgrims will come from everywhere to listen to sermons.
The Butter lamp Festival falls on January 15 of the Tibetan calendar, which has its origin in a celebration with many butter lamps to honor the victory of Sakyamuni in a debate against Heretics. During the festive celebration, Barkhor Street in Lhasa is crowded with people and by nightfall is brightly lit with thousands of lamps made of butter in an intriguing assortment of designs. The festive mood lasts throughout the night.
Saga Dawa Festival on April 15 marks the birth, transcendence and death of Sakyamuni. Pilgrims and secular folks will visit Lhasa and the festival is observed by turning prayer wheels, having vegetarian lunch and a picnic by the Dragon King Pond. Folk entertainers will perform Tibetan tradition; they will pay their homage to Buddha, observe a vegetarian rule, refrain from killing domestic animals and give out alms during the month.
Archery contests on horseback are popular throughout the Tibetan region. The Gyangtse Horse-race Festival became events on fixed dates in 1408 when the king of Gyangtse gave a decree marking the period from April 10 through 27 of every year for prayers and sacrificial ceremony for his grandfather with entertainment offered on the 28th. By the mid-17th century, original ritual ceremonies became symbolic and contests of archery on horseback grew to be the most important events for the festival. Nowadays, with all kinds of entertainment and fairs organized it has become one of the most important festivals in Tibet.
The Shoton Festival is one of the grandest festivals in Tibet. Prior to the 17th century, Shoton had been an exclusively religious observance. The month of June on the Tibetan calendar was reserved for self-cultivation and meditation for all the monks who were not allowed to go out of monasteries until July 1, when local residents would offer alms of yogurt (Sho, in Tibetan). From around the mid-17th century, Tibetan local operas were added to festival celebrations which were held around monasteries and in Lhasa the Drepung Monastery. From the beginning of the 18th century, the main site of the festival was moved to Norbu Lingka and celebrations became formalized which include shining of the Buddha's portrait, folk amusement at the local park and performances of Tibetan operas. Popular fairs are also organized during the festival.
For a whole week in early July when Venus appears in the sky every year, Tibetans will bathe themselves all day long in rivers across the region, believing that bathing may cure illness and get rid of misfortune at a time when water is purest and mildest.
According to a Tibetan myth, the gods will descend from the heaven on the 22nd of the ninth month of the Tibetan calendar every year. All monasteries will be open on this day to the needy and prayers and sutra chants will be given.
Tsong Khapa's Festival, falling on the 15th of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar, marks the anniversary of the passing away of Tsong Khapa, the founder of Gelukpa Sect, and is called Ganden Angchuin in Tibetan. On this day, butter lamps are placed on the roofs of monasteries and secular homes and sutras are chanted in praise of Tsong Khapa. |
