One of the best times to come to Tibet is during one of its many local festivals. Though many take place throughout the year, the biggest festivals that draw visitors from all over the region happen during summer and over the New Year’s Holiday. For travelers looking to participate in the centuries-old traditions of Tibet and spend time on the Plateau while Tibet looks into its past, festivals represent an ideal time to visit and see the most unique and extravagant aspects of Tibetan culture. Horse races, shamanic trances, ritual dancing, and scripture recitation are just a few of the many activities to which our tours provide access.
Tibetans love to gather, dance, sing, and celebrate. Many of their festivals are planned according to the lunar calendar. The most colorful and electrifying sights in Tibet are its varied exotic festivals. These festivities have their origins rooted in folk traditions, religious celebration or traditional cultural activities. The celebrations are often rituals, farming events, horse-trading, races and competitions, commemorations, celebrations, social gatherings or simple amusement. You will see the reflection of Tibetan historical roots, their religious mores and love of nature in their colorful entertainment. These festivals include the Tibetan New Year and Shoton Festival, Butter Lamp Festival, Ganden Festival, Saga Dawa Festival, Horse Racing Festivals, Yarlong Cultural Festival, Harvest Festival, Ongkor Festival, Bathing Festival, Losar Festival or Tibetan New Year and Shoton Festival. Festivals vary but most include traditional dance, song and prayer. Festivals really allow you to see and hear the traditional, sometimes ancient rituals, Tibetan pastime activities, and lots of costumes!
It is interesting to note that many walls of Tibetan monasteries are covered with paintings and masks of ghosts and demons. For novice travelers, these deities belonging to Tibetan Buddhism might seem scary. Some masks have dark faces and ferocious teeth, horrific facial expressions, and are topped by miniature skulls and horns. It’s not what it seems. The masks are used to scare away evil spirits when worn by dancing monks and lamas during festival times.
Tibetan Buddhists believe that the arrival of Buddhism to their land transformed these threatening gods of the old Bon religion into benevolent protectors. So leave your western ideas behind and join in another world as a world traveler and observer, understanding that even though other traditions are odd, our traditions are odd to others. With this is mind, observing these marvelous Tibetan traditions are a joy to behold. No one here asks you to believe or change or accept. Tibetans accept all sentient beings as possible previous relatives which gives them an aura of love not often found.