Losar, or the Tibetan New Year, is the most important festival in the Tibetan calendar. In Tibetan, lo means “year” and sar means “new.” Losar is determined according to the lunar calendar, and often falls in February. It is traditionally celebrated for few days,. During Tibetan New Year and Monlam major monasteries will perform a series of rituals including mask dances and displaying giant appliqué image of Buddha to the public. Every year the festival draws thousands of pilgrims from far and near. The locals will put on their traditional clothes adorned with jewelry. It is a great opportunity to see Tibetan Buddhist culture as well as traditional culture. The religious dances will be performed in the courtyard of the monastery. The monks wearing the masks of various deities, holding drums and other instruments will perform as the rituals carry out. Your participation in the rituals together with pilgrims will be an overwhelming experience. Moreover, a short trip will provide you the opportunity to see festivals in different monasteries in Amdo and enjoy the peaceful scenery of winter on the Tibetan Plateau.
Day 1-3 Xining / Gonlong / Drotsang ( and around)
Xining, the northern east frontier of Tibet Plateau, it well represents the rich mixture of local ethnicities and offers a wide variety of sights. Explore the Buddhist temples and heritages in minor side valley of the Tsong-chu River. Kumbum Shambaling (Ch. Ta’er Si), where the Eminent Tsong-kha-pa was born in 1357. Winter is time all local people come here for pilgrimage, including Mongolian, Tibetans and Tu people. We will visit temples and pay homage to the great eminent Tsong-kha-pa at golden roof temple where the tree of the great merit is enshrined. Drotsang(ch.Ledu) has a very importan 15th century old Sino-Tibetan historic temple, its architecture and design is comparable to the imperial palace. On the last day, we will go picturesque valley of Gonlung for the religious rituals and exotic masked dance in the monastery, which has a different style from other ceremonies we will see in our rest journey.
Day 4-7 Rebgong ( and around)
En route to Rebgong, We will go to visit a 9th century old hermitage caves, and where many famous Tibetan Buddhist yogi stayed in retreat. Rebgong is famous for Tibetan traditional painting, we will visit Rongwo monastery, a principle monastery at local, decorated with fine art of local artists, we will see the eclectic collection of old frescoes housed in the monastery. During our staying in Rebgong we will join rituals in different monasteries, mask dance, morning tea ceremony and Maitreya Buddha praying etc.
Day 8-11 Labrang ( and around)
Labrang monastery regard as largest Geluk Buddhist school in Amdo, its new year festival rituals draw great number of pilgrims than any other monasteries, both farmers and nomads, far and near. In this special occasion people put on their traditional ornaments finest clothes, it also provides a great opportunity to see traditional customs and life style of different Tibetan communities, beside the regions ceremony. Other than mask dancing, we will join unveiling giant Buddha painting ceremony, hundreds monks and lay people will carry the appliqué from monastery to hillside to show it to the public, the entire ritual is magnificent, every year nomads from far and near will gather here for the special occasion..
Day 12-13 Labrang-Xining
On the way back we will drive to Weidon and visit the family house of 10 –th Panchen Lama s birthplace. See the puja at Weido monastery, chanting with monks and spend night with locals here.
Next day back to Xining for last shopping and last Tibetan dinner
Day 14-Free till check out and transfer to Xining airport for departure flight.
End of the amazing Losar tour.
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