Interesting Tibetan Festivals in June 2013

July,28 2016 BY Master Catherine Jigme 0 COMMENTS

Travelling to Tibet during a traditional Tibetan festival, travelers will get extra reward and experience from their Tibet tour. Let’s see what interesting Tibetan Festivals in June 2013. You can also visit our Tibet Tour Calendar 2013 for more Tibetan festivals in 2013.

Tibet is noted for its splendid culture, unique Tibetan lifestyle, and mysterious custom which will be totally presented during Tibetan festivals. Thus, travelers can experience all aspects of Tibet directly during its traditional festivals. But it is better to travel to Tibet on a festival during summer for the weather is the best in a year. The next June should be a wonderful month to visit Tibet with warm weathers and funny traditional Tibetan festivals.

Tashilhunpo Festival

Tashilhunpo Festival or Buddha Unveiling Festival is a significant religious festival in Tibet and enjoys high popularity among local Tibetans and tourists. The festival is held for scripture chanting, praying for rain and good harvest.

With a history over 500 years, the Tashilhunpo Festival erupts for three days in the middle of the fifth lunar Tibetan month and will fall on will fall on June 21 and last to June 23 in solar calendar.

Different portraits of Buddha are exhibited on each day during the Tashilhunpo Festival. Buddha Amitabha (infinite light) would be exhibited on the first day to remind people to cherish the memory of the past. Sakyamuni would be exhibited on the second day to ask people to pray for a life with happiness. Maitreya (the future Buddha) would be exhibited on the third day to encourage people to hold expectations for the future.

Many Tibetan Buddhists would go to worship the Buddha and do ritual walk around the Tashilhunpo.

Recommended Tashilhunpo Festival Tour

Gyantse Horse Racing Festival

Horses have been good companion of the Tibetan people for generations. Therefore, festivals themed in horse race are imperative. The Gyantse Horse Racing Festival, which will fall on June 23 and last to June 26, 2013, is one of the most famous horse racing ceremonies in Tibet.

The Gyantse Horse Racing Festival is also known as Gyantse Dama Festival in Tibet. Dama means horse racing and archery in Tibetan. It can be dated back to 500 years ago, initially for consecrating the Gyantse Prince Gungsang Rabten, who had built Pelkor Chode Monastery, as well as to his highly esteemed grandfather. At the beginning, it was mainly for religious events, and later on evolved to horse race as a predominating event and it spread over to other areas of Tibet, like Lhasa, Changtang and Gongbo, etc.

The horse racing festival actually begins with religious events such as mantra reciting, holy dancing and displaying images of Buddha, etc. Besides, there are also some other events for fun include yak race, donkey race and so on.

Except the Tashilhunpo Festival and Gyantse Dama Festival, there are also other festivals celebrated in Tibet, especially in the monasteries of Tibet, such as Cham Festival in Samye and Trandruk monasteries. If you are making a Tibet tour plan in June 2013, do not miss these interesting festivals.

About the Author - Master Catherine Jigme

With exceptional passion and outstanding leadership, Mrs. Catherine has dedicated herself to Tibet inbound tourism and China tour for 15 years. As one of the handful females who see great potential of Chinese inbound tourism, Catherine has made great contribution to promoting Tibet tourism and enhancing the employment of Tibetans and prosperity of local Tibetan community.

Over the years, she travelled overseas with Tibet Tourism Bureau many times to promote Tibet tourism. Currently, Catherine works as the marketing director of Tibet Vista, an opinion leader behind the whole team of Tibet Vista.

Email me about your travel idea