A masked dancer performs a ceremonial ritual at a monastery in Amdo
Many religious ceremonies and celebrations include masked dancers performing elaborate rituals that tell stories, invite good fortune, and scare away demons. Various festivals take place throughout the year in Tibet, and it is worth scheduling your trip when one is happening.
Tibetan Festival Calendar
Festivals are lively events that bring together Tibetans from all over the plateau. The more than 100 major and minor festivals that take place throughout the year include horse racing, dancing, singing, praying, and displays of religious artwork.
Below is the schedule for Tibetan Festivals in 2012. If your travel schedule allows, it is worth arranging a trip to Tibet when festivals are taking place.
| Festivals | Region | Dates (2012) | Notes |
| Tibetan New Year (Losar) | Lhasa/Kham/Amdo | Feb 22 | Lively one to two week festival celebrating the new year. Most important festival of the year. |
| Monlam Prayer Festival | Lhasa/Kham/Amdo | Feb 25 | The Great Prayer Festival. Many pilgrims gather at the Jokhang and other monasteries. |
| Butter Lamp Festival | Lhasa/Amdo | Mar 08 | Monks compete in building tall butter sculpture offerings. Commemorates Buddha’s miracle at Sravasti. Fires and lamps are lit. |
| Saga Dawa | Lhasa/Kham/Amdo | Jun 04 | Important month for pilgrims. Birth of Buddha Shakyamuni. |
| Thangka Unveiling | Lhasa/Shigatse | Jul 03 | A giant thangka painting is hung at Tashilunpo and famous monasteries. |
| Zamling Chisang | Lhasa | Jul 03 | Universal Incense Offering Day. Picnic, sing, and dance in the park. |
| Choekor Ducheng | Lhasa | Jul 23 | Commemorates the Buddha’s first teaching. |
| Gyantse Horse Race | Lhasa | July 20 | Horse & yak racing, dancing, singing, and games. |
| Shoton Yogurt Festival | Lhasa | Aug 17 | Picnics and operas are held in parks, particularly under the trees at Norbulingka. Bonfires at night. |
| Nagchu Horse Race | Lhasa | Aug 10 | Horse & yak racing, dancing, singing, and games. |
| Lhabab Dechen | Lhasa | Nov 06 | Festival observing the descent of Buddha from heaven. |
| Palden Lhamo Festival | Lhasa | Nov 28 | A float of Tibet’s protector deity Palden Lhamo is paraded through the city. |
| Ganden Nga Choe | Lhasa / Amdo | Dec 08 | Memorial for Tsongkhapa. Buddhists light lamps, make offerings, and pray. |
| Ganden Thangka Unveiling | Lhasa | Aug 02 | A giant thangka painting is hung at Ganden Monastery. |
| Jyekundo Horse Festival | Kham | July 25-28 | The biggest horse racing festival in Tibet. |
| Litang Horse Festival | Kham | August 1-5 | Horse racing, circle dance, fashion shows. |
| Kumbum Festival | Amdo | May25 | Prayers, thangka unveiling, monks’ mask dance. |
| Ngawa Losar/Monlam | Amdo | Feb 07-15 | Horseback fashion show, strength contest, giant thangka unveiling. |
| Labrang Losar/Monlam | Amdo | Feb 04-07 | Commemorates Buddha’s miracle at Sravasti, thangka unveiling. |
| Repkong Losar / Monlam | Amdo | Jan 27- Feb 05 | Commemorates Buddha’s miracle at Sravasti, thangka unveiling. |
| Repkong Shaman Festival | Amdo | Aug 03-13 | Ritual demon exorcism |
| Butter Sculpture Exhibition | Amdo Kumbum | Feb 06 | Monks compete in building tall butter sculpture offerings. Commemorates Buddha’s miracle at Sravasti. Fires and lamps are lit. |