2016 Tibetan Festival Calendar
27/01/2016
There are many festivals during the whole year, which are not only the tradition for local Tibetans but also great attractions for travelers from all over the world, such as the famous Shoton Festival, Saga Dawa Festival and Horse Racing Festival. If you plan to visit Tibet with a local festival experience, you can check our latest 2016 Tibetan Festival calendar to help you arrange your trip to Tibet.
Experience Tibetan Festivals with the locals!
2016 Celebration Date of Tibetan Festivals
| Festival | Tibetan Calendar | Sola Calendar | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tibet New Year (Losar) |
Jan.1 | Feb.9 | Big dinner, new cloth, worship buddha, parties with friends & relatives |
| Butter Lamp Festival | Jan.15 | Feb.22 | Fires are lit on roofs; lamps in windows |
| Saga Dawa Festival | Apr.15 | May.21 | Ritual walks, worship Buddha, gibe alms to lamas and abstain from eating meat in Lhasa |
| Tashilhunpo Thangka Festival | May 14 | Jun.20 | A giant thangka is hung at Tashilunpo in Shigatse |
| Incense Festival | May 15 | Jun.21 | Tibetan people dress up and party to drive away ghosts and spirits. |
| Buddha’s Sermon | Jun.4 | Jul.8 | A feast is held to commemorate Buddha’s first sermon |
| Shoton Festival | Jul.1 | Aug.5 | Tibetan operas are performed and Buddha paintings are exhibited, wonderful yak race and horsemanship display |
| Bathing Festival | Jul.8 | Aug.13 | Tibet people go to the river to wash themselves and their clothes for good health |
| Horse Racing Festival | In July | In August | It is a unique festival in grazing area of Tibet |
| Ongkor Festival | In August | In September | horse racing, shooting, dancing, and singing, Tibetan traditional Opera, stone lifting and wrestling |
| Tsong Khapa Memorial | Oct.25 | Nov.26 | Memorial festival of Tsong Khapa’s death, fires lighting on the roofs of Monasteries |
