In Tibet, the Tibetan calendar lags approximately four to six weeks behind the solar calendar. For example, the Tibetan First Month usually falls in February, the Fifth Month usually falls in June or early July and the Eight Month usually falls in September.
List of traditional Tibetan festivals Month Date Festival Notes 1st Month 1st-7th New Year Festival Losar A week-long drama and carnivals, horse races and archery 1st Month 4th-25th Monlam Prayer Festival The Great Prayer Festival, a tradition begun by Tsong Khapa. Many pilgrims gather at Jokhang in Lhasa 1st Month 15th Lantern Festival Commemorates Buddha's miracle at Sravasti. Fires are lit on roofs, and lamps in windows 2nd Month 28th-29th - Festival to drive out evil spirits and expel the scapegoat. Lamas encircle Lhasa with trumpets 4th Month 7th Pilgrim Festival Important month for pilgrims. -the birth of Buddha Sakyamuni 4th Month 15th Saka dawa Celebrates the birth and Enlightenment of Sakyamuni and his entry to Nirvana. An outdoor opera is held and captured animals released. Worshippers flock to the Jokhang in Lhasa to pray. 5th Month 14th-16th Hanging of the Thangka A giant thangka is hung at Tashilhunpo in Shigatse 5th Month 15th Incense Festival On this day ghosts are said to prowl. Tibetans dress up and party to drive away the spirits. 5th Month 15th-24th Sho Dun Festival Literally, the "Yoghurt Festival." Worship of the Buddha. Picnics and operas are held in parks particularly under the trees at Norbulingka. There are often bonfires at night. 6th Month 4th Buddha's sermon A feast is held to commemorate Buddha's first sermon. Pilgrims climb holy mountains such as Chokbori 6th month 6th Cham-ngyon-wa, or "Old Dance" Celebrated at the Cho-ne Monastery, representing the souls of the departed. 7th month beginning Washing Festival Lasts about a week. People go to the river to wash themselves and their clothes. Said to cure any sickness.7th Month end Ongkar Festival Literally 'Looking around the fields'. Ensures a good harvest. Horse-racing, archery contests and opera 7th/8th Month All Golden Star Festival The Golden Star festival is held to wash away passion, greed and jealousy and to abandon ego. Ritual bathing in rivers takes place and picnics are held 8th Month 1st-10th Dajyur Festival The Dayjur is held in Gyantse and Damxung -horse racing and light hearted sports competitions and games takes places 8th Month1st-7th Harvest Festival The festival is held with prayers, dancing, singing and drinking 8th Month14th-16th Buddha painting unfolding festival Lamas unfold large thangkas on walls and mountains. 9th Month 22nd - Buddha's descent from heaven after preaching to his mother is commemorated. All monasteries are opened and pilgrims gather 10th Month 25th Tsong Khapa memorial Memorial festival of Tsong Khapa's death - fires are lit on the roofs of the monasteries and lamps are lit 12th Month 1st-7th New Year Festival New Year Festival in Shigatse 12th Month 5th-6th Meeting of the Eight Guardians The Meeting of the Eight Guardians and demons where Tibetans stay indoors to avoid evil outside 12th Month29th Banishing Evil Spirits A "Devil Dance" is held to drive out all evil from the Old Year to prepare for New Year.
Losar
The Tibetan calendar is a lunisolar calendar. Losar is celebrated on the first three days of the first lunar month.
Gallery
See also Traditional games of Tibet List of festivals in Asia
References