Place

Date
(in Tibetan calendar)

Activities

New Year

Tibet

Jan. 1

A series of celebrating activities

Great Prayer Festival

Lhasa

Jan. 4-25

Religious dances, monks chanting, examination for Geshe degree

Butter Lamp Festival

Lhasa

Jan. 15

Giant butter and Tsampa sculptures display, singing, dancing

Gyangtse Horse Race Festival

Gyangtse

Apr. 18

Horse race, archery contest, religious activities

Buddha Unfolding Festival

Tashilhunpo Monastery

May 14-16

Giant Thangkas of Amitayus, Sakyamuni and Maitreya display

Universal Prayers Festival

Zamling Chisang

May 15

People go to monasteries and burn juniper branches.

Paying Homage to the Holy Mountain Festival

Tibet

Jun. 4

Homage paying to the Buddha, Circumambulation around mountains, picnicking, singing and dancing

Shoton Festival (Yoghurt Festival)

Tibet

Jun. 30

Tibetan opera performances

Bathing Festival

Tibet

Jul. 27

Bathing in star light

Nakchu Horse Race Festival

Nakchu

early August

Horse race, archery and horsemanship contest

Harvest Festival

Ongkor

August

Celebrations only in farming villages; walking around field to bless for a harvest year, Singing, dancing, and horseracing

Tsong Khapa Butter Lamp Festival

Tibet

Oct. 25

Myriads of butter lamps lit on rooftops, prayers chanting

Paying Homage to the Holy Mountain Festival

Choekhor Duechcen

Jun. 4

Homage paying to the Buddha, Circumambulation around mountains, picnicking, singing and dancing