Tibetan Festivals

There are countless festivals held all over Tibet and this section highlights only the major ones in and around Lhasa. Horse racing festivals in the summer and harvest festivals during the fall are held throughout the region. The dates of even the same festival may vary from region to region. For example, the New Year's Day in Shigatse is celebrated at the beginning of December on the Tibetan calendar.Tibetan Horse Festival

Tibetan Festival Chart
Gutor / Ngan-pa gu-zom (Day before New Year's Eve) 29th day of the 12th lunar month
Losar 1st-3rd day of the 1st lunar month
Monlam (Prayer Festival) 4th-11th day of the 1st lunar month
Chunga Choepa (Memorial Service on the 15th) 15th day of the 1st lunar month
Tibetan Uprising Day Mar 10, Western calendar
Saka Dawa Festival 15th day of the 4th lunar month

Horse Racing Festival in Gyantse

 18th day of the 4th lunar month

The Unveiling of the Great Thangka at Tashilhunpo Monastery

 15th day of the 5th lunar month
Birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama July 6, Western calendar
Zamling Chisang (Universal Prayer Day) 15th day of the 5th lunar month
Choekhor Duechen 4th day of the 6th lunar month
Guru Tsechu 10th day of the 6th lunar month
Zhoton (Yoghurt Festival) 30th day of the 6th lunar month
Bathing Festival 27th day of the 7th lunar month

Horse Racing Festival at Damzhung

 30th day of the 7th lunar month
Harvest Festival Early in the 8th lunar month
Labab Duechen 22nd day of the 9th lunar month
Palden Lhamo Festival 15th day of the 10th lunar month
Ngachu Chenmo (Tsongkapa Butter Lamp Festival) 25th day of the 10th lunar month