Major Tibetan Festivals

Tibetan New Year: New Year's Day according to the Tibetan calendar, which begins in 1027, is the foremost of all secular festivals in Tibet.

Grand Summons Ceremony: Also known as Monlam, the Grand Summons Ceremony falls on the 1st-15th day of the first Tibetan month as the most important and grandest religious festival in Tibet.

Butter Lamp Festival: this festival takes place on the 15th day of the 1st Tibetan month which happens to be the last day of the Monlam Festival. During the day the Tibetans pay homage to the Buddha by turning prayer wheels in their hands; at night, they light butter-burning lamps and sing and dance to pray for blessings.

Shoton Festival: One of the major festivals in Tibet, the Shoton Festival takes place in August. Beginning from the 17th century, it has been converted into Tibetan Opera Festival.

Sorcerers' Festival: During this festival, which falls on the 29th of the 12th Tibetan month, large-scale sorcerers' dances take place at Lhasa's Potala Palace and other monasteries to subdue devils and ward off disasters.

Horse-Racing Festival: Horseback riding, archery and other cultural and sports activities take place during this festival, the largest local folklore celebration in Tibet which takes place in summer. Apart from horse racing, there are also other cultural and sports and trading activities. The festival draws the largest followings in Qiangtang of Dagqu, Gyangze, and Danxung.