Shoton Festival ranks first among 20 Tibetan festivals

July,28 2016 BY Master Catherine Jigme 0 COMMENTS

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On the 3rd Chinese Festival Innovation Forum or 2012 Chinese Brand Festival Press Conference, Lhasa Shoton Festival ranked first among 20 Tibetan festivals in terms of popularity. Pabang Dangkuo Festival and Damxung Horse Racing Festival respectively ranked second and third place.

Among Lhasa Shoton Festival, Damxung Horse Racing Festival, Pabang Dangkuo Festival, Yarlung Zangpo Grand Canyon Culture & Tourism Festival, Mt. Everest Culture and Tourism Festival, Ningchi Peach Blossom Festival and other 14 Tibetan festivals, the former three were voted as the most popular festivals in Tibet.

Lhasa witnesses flocks of visitors during the Shoton Festival.

The Shoton Festival is an important Tibetan festival endowed with unique ethnic features. It celebrates eating yogurt, the Tibetan monks who end their season of meditation, the watching of Tibetan dramatic operas, and Tibetan Buddhism. It is held annually in the month of August, or late in the sixth month or early in the seventh month of the Tibetan calendar. The festival is a great occasion for both Tibetans and tourists. During the festival, there are celebrations in the streets, squares and monasteries in Lhasa.

The Damxung Horse Racing is extremely exciting.

The Damxung Horse Festival was originally created to celebrate the harvest. It was also a chance for Tibetans, as well as Mongols, to exchange the agriculture and animal husbandry products. Later, Tibetans added more entertainment and some recreational activities into the celebration of Damgxung Horse Racing Festival. The festival would be held between July 10th and July 12th according to the Tibetan calendar.

Tibetan people in festival cotume

Most people know the Lhasa Shoton Festival and Damxung Horse Racing Festival, but few tourists know the Pabang Dangkuo Festival which is held at Reting Monastery in Lhasa on every July 15th of Tibetan calendar. In the morning, the horse racing and the ripening crop robbing are deeply moving. According to the traditional rules, one of the horses must be white, and one of riders must wear white. In the racing, the white horse and the rider who wears white must reach the destination, which shows good luck. The dignitary of Reting Temple will give away the prizes and Kada to the winner.

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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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