FESTIVALS OF TIBET – 2024

LOSAR FESTIVAL (TIBETAN NEW YEAR) - 2024
Festival date – 10th February, 2024

Lhosar, the Tibetan New Year, the largest and most popular non-religious festival of the year. Lhosar is primarily a family oriented festival, festival brings much happiness and joy amongst the Tibetan people, celebrated in homes and with friends by eating special pastries and drinking plenty of Chang (Barley Beer). On New Year’s Day in Lhasa pilgrims visits the Jokhang Temple and Potala Palace to make offerings of butter in the burning lamps. The great incense burners around the Barkhor Street billow scented smoke continuously as queues of worshipers wait to add their offerings of juniper boughs. Everyone dresses in their finest clothes and many people gather around the Barkhor.

Early the morning of the third day pilgrims climb the hills around Lhasa to light fires of incense bush. In town, new colored prayer flags are hung out above each home and small incense fires burn everywhere. First 3 days of the New Year are very important when family get together and wish each other, celebration continue for a month taking part in various social activities.

SAGA DAWA FESTIVAL – 2024
Festival date – 23rd May 2024

“Saga” translates to “glowing star,” and “Dawa” signifies “month.” The festival, also known as Saga Dawa Duchen, occurs in the fourth lunar month on the full moon day of the 15th day according to the Tibetan calendar.

This one month long Saga Dawa festival is a celebration that commemorates three principal events in Buddha’s life: his birth, enlightenment, and Parinirvana (death). Devotees engage in various religious and charitable activities throughout this holy month, visiting sacred places, making donations, and actively volunteering. Many adhere to the five basic teachings of Buddha, known as Panchasil, which include abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, wrong speech, and intoxication.

The epicenter of this festival is Tarpoche in Kailash, where hundreds of monks and devotees gather from across Tibet to partake in a special ceremony, praying for peace and harmony and seeking blessings. Following the ceremony, devotees circumambulate the holy Kailash. Every year, numerous tourists travel to Tibet to witness this significant festival, contributing to the powerful energy that resonates across the Tibetan plateau during Saga Dawa.

SHOTON FESTIVAL – 2024
Festival date – 04th – 10th August, 2024

Shoton, also known as the Curd Festival, commences with the unveiling of the Giant Thangka of Buddha at Drepung Monastery. Early in the morning, hundreds of people gather at the monastery to witness a captivating ceremony, where monks chant religious prayers and perform tantric dances.

Subsequently, a grand cultural ceremony unfolds in the vast square in front of Tibet’s iconic landmark, the Potala Palace. This summer festival radiates happiness and joy, featuring daily opera shows and diverse cultural activities performed by artists from various regions of Tibet in the courtyard of Norbulingka Palace, the summer residence of the Dalai Lama.

In ancient times, the Dalai Lama used to relish these performances during his stays at Norbulingka. The government grants an official one-week holiday for this festival, allowing Tibetan people to maximize their enjoyment. Families and friends organize picnic lunches, relish delicious foods, play cards and engage in traditional activities like Para sho and Majung, creating cherished memories during this festive week.

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Pemba Sherpa

An authentic Tibet Travel Expert since 1998