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Recommended Tibetan festivals in 2013

Several interesting Tibetan festivals will be celebrated in 2013. Tibetan festivals always attract faithful as well as curious onlookers every year. The following are some recommended Tibetan festivals in 2013. If you wanna know more Tibetan festivals in 2013,  go to the page of Tibet tour calendar 2013.   

 
Tibetan New Year, Losar in Tibetan Language (February in 2013) 
 
tibetan new year
 
It is the greatest festival in Tibet. In ancient times when the peach tree was in blossom, it was considered as the starting of a new year. Since the systematization of the Tibetan calendar in 1027 AD., the first day of the first month became fixed as the New Year. The coming Tibetan New Year will fall on February 11, 2013. On the New Year's Day, families unite "auspicious dipper" is offered and the auspicious words "tashi delek" are greeted. 
 
Butter Oil Lantern Festival (February in 2013)
 
It's held on the 15th of the first lunar month. The Butter Oil Lantern Festival will fall on February 26, 2013. Huge yak-butter sculptures are placed around Lhasa's Barkhor circuit. 
 
Saga Dawa Festival (May in 2013)
 
It is the holiest in Tibet, there memorable occasions coincide on this day, Buddha's birth and Buddha's enlightenment. Almost every person within Lhasa joins in circumambulations round the city and spends their late afternoon on picnic at "Dzongyab Lukhang" park at the foot of Potala. The Saga Dawa Festival will fall on May 25, 2013.
 
Gyantse Horse Race & Archery (June in 2013) 
 
Horse Race
 
The Gyantse Horse Race and Archery will be held from June 23 to June 26 in 2013. Horse race and archery are generally popular in Tibet, and Gyantse enjoys prestige of being the earliest in history by starting in 1408. Contests in early times included horse race, archery, and shooting on gallop followed by a few days' entertainment or picnicking. Presently, ball games, track and field events, folk songs and dances, barter trade are in addition to the above. 
 
Changtang Chachen Horse Race Festival (August in 2013
 
There are many horse racing festivals in Tibet, the one in Nagqu of Northern Tibet is the greatest. August is the golden season on Northern Tibet's vast grassland. Herdsmen, on their horsebacks, in colorful dresses, carrying tents and local products, pour into Nagqu. Soon they form a city of tents. Various exciting programs are held, such as horse racing, yak racing, archery, horsemanship and commodity fair. 
 
Shoton Festival (August in 2013)
 
Shoton festival
 
The Shoton Festival in 2013 will fall on August 6. People perform at the opening ceremony of the Shoton (Yogurt) Festival celebration in on the Potala Palace Square in Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Regional, August 30, 2008. Various activities will be held during the Shoton Festival such as Tangka Paintings display, dancings and Tibetan drama show etc.  
 
It is one of the major festivals in Tibet, also known as the Tibetan Opera Festival. The founder of the Gelugpa (Yellow Sect of Buddhism), Tsongkhapa set the rule that Buddhists can cultivate themselves only indoor in summer, to avoid killing other creatures carelessly. This rule must be carried out till the seventh lunar month. Then Buddhists go outdoors, accept yoghurt served by local people, and have fun. Since the middle of 17th century, the Fifth Dalai Lama added opera performance to this festival. Famous Tibetan opera troupes perform in Norbulingka (Dalai Lama's summer palace). 
Master Catherine Jigme

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.

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