Tibetan Festivals
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Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, the Tibetan calendar
Tibetan calendar
The Tibetan calendar is a lunisolar calendar, that is, the Tibetan year is composed of either 12 or 13 lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every two or three years, so that an average Tibetan year is equal to the solar year.The Tibetan New Year...
lags approximately four to six weeks behind the solar calendar
Solar calendar
A solar calendar is a calendar whose dates indicate the position of the earth on its revolution around the sun .-Tropical solar calendars:...
. For example the Tibetan First Month usually falls in February, the Fifth Month June or early July and the Eight Month in September.
| Month | Date | Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Month | 1st-7th | New Year Festival Losar Losar Losar is the Tibetan word for "new year." lo holds the semantic field "year, age"; sar holds the semantic field "new, fresh". Losar is the most important holiday in Tibet.... |
A week long drama and carnival Carnival Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party... s, horse races and archery Archery Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity... |
| 1st Month | 4th-25th | Monlam Prayer Festival | The Great Prayer Festival, a tradition begun by Tsong Khapa. Many pilgrim Pilgrim A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system... s gather at Jokhang Jokhang The Jokhang, , also called the Qokang Monastery, Jokang, Jokhang Temple, Jokhang Monastery or Zuglagkang , is located on Barkhor Square in Lhasa. For most Tibetans it is the most sacred and important temple in Tibet. It is in some regards pan-sectarian, but is presently controlled by the Gelug school... in Lhasa Lhasa Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world... |
| 1st Month | 15th | Lantern Festival | Commemorates Buddha Gautama Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian... 's miracle at Sravasti. Fire Fire Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition.... s are lit on roofs, and lamps in windows |
| 2nd Month | 28th-29th | - | Festival to drive out evil spirits and expel the scapegoat. Lama Lama Lama is a title for a Tibetan teacher of the Dharma. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru .Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries... s encircle Lhasa Lhasa Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world... with trumpet Trumpet The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air... s |
| 4th Month | 7th | Pilgrim Festival | Important month for pilgrims. -the birth of Buddha Sakyamuni |
| 4th Month | 15th | Saka dawa | Celebrates the birth and Enlightenment of Sakyamuni and his entry to Nirvana Nirvana Nirvāṇa ; ) is a central concept in Indian religions. In sramanic thought, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the Supreme being through moksha... . An outdoor opera is held and captured animals released. Worshippers flock to the Jokhang Jokhang The Jokhang, , also called the Qokang Monastery, Jokang, Jokhang Temple, Jokhang Monastery or Zuglagkang , is located on Barkhor Square in Lhasa. For most Tibetans it is the most sacred and important temple in Tibet. It is in some regards pan-sectarian, but is presently controlled by the Gelug school... in Lhasa to pray. |
| 5th Month | 14th-16th | Hanging of the Thangka | A giant thangka Thangka A "Thangka," also known as "Tangka", "Thanka" or "Tanka" is a Tibetan silk painting with embroidery, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, famous scene, or mandala of some sort. The thankga is not a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting... is hung at Tashilhunpo Tashilhunpo Tashilhunpo Monastery , founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama, is a historic and culturally important monastery next to Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet.... in Shigatse Shigatse Shigatse is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region , People's Republic of China, with a population of 92000, about southwest of Lhasa and northwest of Gyantse... |
| 5th Month | 15th | Incense Festival | On this day ghosts are said to prowl. Tibetans dress up and party to drive away the spirits. |
| 5th Month | 15th-24th | Sho Dun Festival Sho Dun Festival The Sho Dun Festival , commonly known as the Yoghurt Festival or Banquet is an annual festival held at Norbulingka or "Jewel Park" palace in Lhasa, Tibet.... |
Literally, the "Yoghurt Festival." Worship of the Buddha. Picnics and operas are held in parks particularly under the trees at Norbulingka Norbulingka Norbulingka is a palace and surrounding park in Lhasa, Tibet, built from 1755. It served as the traditional summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas from the 1780s up until the 14th Dalai Lama's exile in 1959... . There are often bonfires at night. |
| 6th Month | 4th | Buddha's sermon | A feast is held to commemorate Buddha's first sermon. Pilgrims climb holy mountains such as Chokbori |
| 6th month | 6th | Cham-ngyon-wa, or "Old Dance" | Celebrated at the Cho-ne Monastery Cho-ne Monastery Chone Monastery , also Chone Gonchen Ganden Shedrubling, or Choni Monastery was originally a Sakya monastery... , representing the souls of the departed. |
| 7th month | beginning | Washing Festival | Lasts about a week. People go to the river to wash themselves and their clothes. Said to cure any sickness. |
| 7th Month | end | Ongkar Festival | Literally 'Looking around the fields'. Ensures a good harvest. Horse-racing, archery contests and opera |
| 7th/8th Month | All | Golden Star Festival Golden Star Festival The Golden Star Festival is a festival held in Tibet falling between the 7th and 8th month of the Tibetan Calendar .The Golden Star festival is held to wash away sins, particularly passion, greed and jealousy and to abandon ego. Ritual bathing in rivers takes place and picnics are held.... |
The Golden Star festival is held to wash away passion Passion (emotion) Passion is a term applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something.... , greed and jealousy Jealousy Jealousy is a second emotion and typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, particularly in reference to a human connection. Jealousy often consists of a combination of presenting emotions... and to abandon ego. Ritual bathing in rivers takes place and picnics are held |
| 8th Month | 1st-10th | Dajyur Dajyur Dajyur or the Damxung Horse Festival is a Tibetan festival that takes place at the beginning of the eighth month of the lunar calendar throughout southern Tibet. The festivities last for ten days with events such as horse racing, bicycle riding contests, and rock-carrying competitions contributing... Festival |
The Dayjur is held in Gyantse Gyantse Gyantse is a town located in Gyangzê County, Shigatse Prefecture. It was historically considered the third largest and most prominent town in the Tibet region , but there are now at least ten larger Tibetan cities.-Location:The town is strategically located in the Nyang River Valley on the ancient... and Damxung Damxung Damxung is a small modern Tibetan town of low-barrack like buildings and is the administrative centre of Damxung County near Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Unlike many of the quaint old Tibetan settlements in the more southern farming areas of Tibet this town is modern, built up... -horse racing and light hearted sports competitions and games takes places |
| 8th Month | 1st-7th | Harvest Festival Harvest festival A Harvest Festival is an annual celebration which occurs around the time of the main harvest of a given region. Given the differences in climate and crops around the world, harvest festivals can be found at various times throughout the world... |
The festival is held with prayer Prayer Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of... s, dancing, singing Singing Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... and drinking Drinking Drinking is the act of consuming water or a beverage through the mouth. Water is required for many of life’s physiological processes. Both excessive and inadequate water intake are associated with health problems.-Physiology:... |
| 9th Month | 22nd | ||
| Buddha's descent from heaven after preaching to his mother is commemorated. All monasteries are opened and pilgrims gather | |||
| 10th Month | 25th | Tsong Khapa memorial | Memorial festival of Tsong Khapa's death - fires are lit on the roofs of the monasteries and lamps are lit |
| 12th Month | 1st-7th | New Year Festival | New Year Festival in Shigatse Shigatse Shigatse is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region , People's Republic of China, with a population of 92000, about southwest of Lhasa and northwest of Gyantse... |
| 12th Month | 5th-6th | Meeting of the Eight Guardians | The Meeting of the Eight Guardians and demons where Tibetans stay indoors to avoid evil Evil Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,... outside |
| 12th Month | 29th | Banishing Evil Spirits | A "Devil Dance" is held to drive out all evil from the Old Year to prepare for New Year. |
Losar
The Tibetan calendarTibetan calendar
The Tibetan calendar is a lunisolar calendar, that is, the Tibetan year is composed of either 12 or 13 lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every two or three years, so that an average Tibetan year is equal to the solar year.The Tibetan New Year...
is a lunisolar calendar
Lunisolar calendar
A lunisolar calendar is a calendar in many cultures whose date indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year. If the solar year is defined as a tropical year then a lunisolar calendar will give an indication of the season; if it is taken as a sidereal year then the calendar will...
. Losar is celebrated on the first three days of the first lunar month
Lunar month
In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two identical syzygies . There are many variations. In Middle-Eastern and European traditions, the month starts when the young crescent moon becomes first visible at evening after conjunction with the Sun one or two days before that evening...
.
| Gregorian Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter... year |
Tibetan Tibetan calendar The Tibetan calendar is a lunisolar calendar, that is, the Tibetan year is composed of either 12 or 13 lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every two or three years, so that an average Tibetan year is equal to the solar year.The Tibetan New Year... year |
Losar* | element and animal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2126 | February 5 - February 7 | male iron dragon |
| 2001 | 2127 | January 24 - January 26 | female iron snake (or metal serpent) |
| 2002 | 2128 | February 12 - February 14 | male water horse |
| 2003 | 2129 | February 1 - February 3 | female water sheep (or goat) |
| 2004 | 2130 | January 22 - January 24 | male wood monkey |
| 2005 | 2131 | February 9 - February 11* | female wood bird (or rooster) |
| 2006 | 2132 | January 30 - February 1 | male fire dog |
| 2007 | 2133 | February 18 - February 20 | female fire pig |
| 2008 | 2134 | February 7 - February 9 | male earth rat (some Gelukpa cite Tibetan Year 2135 [five], starting 2008-02-07 at 03:44 GMT, also an annular solar eclipse) |
| 2009 | 2135 | January 25 - January 27 | female earth ox |