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Institutional roles |
History and overview |
InTibet, theTibetan calendar lags approximately four to six weeks behind thesolar 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.
| Month | Date | Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Month | 1st-7th | New Year FestivalLosar | A week-long drama andcarnivals,horse races andarchery |
| 1st Month | 4th-25th | Monlam Prayer Festival | The Great Prayer Festival, a tradition begun byTsong Khapa. Manypilgrims gather atJokhang inLhasa |
| 1st Month | 15th | Lantern Festival | CommemoratesBuddha's miracle at Sravasti.Fires are lit on roofs, and lamps in windows |
| 2nd Month | 28th-29th | - | Festival to drive outevil spirits and expel the scapegoat.Lamas encircleLhasa withtrumpets |
| 4th Month | 7th | Pilgrim Festival | Important month for pilgrims. -the birth of BuddhaSakyamuni |
| 4th Month | 15th | Saka dawa | Celebrates the birth and Enlightenment of Sakyamuni and his entry toNirvana. An outdoor opera is held and captured animals released. Worshippers flock to theJokhang in Lhasa to pray. |
| 5th Month | 14th-16th | Hanging of the Thangka | A giantthangka is hung atTashilhunpo inShigatse |
| 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 atNorbulingka. 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 asChokbori |
| 6th month | 6th | Cham-ngyon-wa, or "Old Dance" | Celebrated at theCho-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 awaypassion, greed andjealousy and to abandonego. Ritual bathing in rivers takes place and picnics are held |
| 8th Month | 1st-10th | Dajyur Festival | The Dayjur is held inGyantse andDamxung -horse racing and light hearted sports competitions and games takes places |
| 8th Month | 1st-7th | Harvest Festival | The festival is held withprayers,dancing,singing anddrinking |
| 8th Month | 14st-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. Allmonasteries 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 inShigatse |
| 12th Month | 5th-6th | Meeting of the Eight Guardians | The Meeting of the Eight Guardians and demons where Tibetans stay indoors to avoidevil outside |
| 12th Month | 29th | Banishing Evil Spirits | A "Devil Dance" is held to drive out all evil from the Old Year to prepare for New Year. |
TheTibetan calendar is alunisolar calendar. Losar is celebrated on the first three days of the firstlunar month.
