Shoton Festival in Tibet

Tourists who are enjoying a Tibet tour in recent days are so lucky, for the Tibetan people are celebrating the annual grand Shoton Festival. The great event began on August 21 at Drepung Monastery, the largest of all Tibetan monasteries, where a large Thangka painting of the Buddha was exhibited before numerous Buddhist monks and believers.

As one of the major events in Tibetan calendar, Shoton Festival is the second most popular festival in Tibet, only next to the Tibetan New Year. The celebration of this great festival will last for one week. During this time, a variety of celebratory activities will be held, including the opening ceremony, gigantic Thangka Buddha exhibition, Tibetan opera performances, yogurt-eating and Namtso trekking etc.

4 Days Lhasa Impression Small Group Tour: Explore the Heart of Tibet and Mingle with the Locals

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Buddha Exhibition

The Buddha exhibition, namely unveiling of Tibetan Thangka painting, is an important occasion for Tibetans. Being the opening event of Shoton Festival, it draws thousands of pilgrims across Tibet to come to witness this sacred moment. As the huge Thangka is slowly unfolded to its full size by dozens of monks and lamas, people rush to offer their white hada with their best wishes. The whole scene of Buddha exhibition is extremely astonishing and spectacular.

Buddha Exhibition in Shoton Festival

Tibetan Opera Performances

Tibetan opera performance is another must-see during the Shoton Festival. As a symbol of Tibetan culture, Tibetan opera combines dance, songs, chants and drama to tell stories. The day after the Buddha exhibition, locals and tourists gather in the park of Norbulingka, the summer palace the Dalai Lama, to watch the Tibetan operas. The operas will be performed from 11am till dusk every day, without any stop.

Tibetan Opera Performances in Shoton Festival

4 Days Lhasa Impression Small Group Tour: Explore the Heart of Tibet and Mingle with the Locals

Tour Route: Lhasa

Price from USD509 p.p

“Linka Outing”

“Linka outing” is the custom for Tibetan people to go out for picnic and relaxation. Traditionally during Shoton Festival, people with their friends or families, in groups of three and four, come early into Linka and put up colorful tents, with kinds of barley wines, Lhasa beers, sweet tea and dried yak meet, fruits placed on the mat. It’s the time for people to sing and dance, as well as play games.

Yogurt Banquet

Since Shoton Festival is also known as the “Yogurt Banquet Festival”, yogurt-eating is an integral part of celebration. Wearing festival costumes, people flock to Norbulingka Palace with yogurt and other kinds of tasty food, to watch the splendid performance of Tibetan opera.

Norbulingka Palace is the center for Shoton Festival celebration

In addition to exhibitions, Tibetan opera performances and yogurt banquet, the week-long gala also includes Tibetan equestrianism, hiking, beer-drinking contests, as well as a Tibetan-style fashion, horse-racing show. Each of these activities will be a unique and unforgettable experience for both locals and tourists.

4 Days Lhasa Impression Small Group Tour: Explore the Heart of Tibet and Mingle with the Locals

Tour Route: Lhasa

Price from USD509 p.p

Videos from Shoton Festival

Tourists from all over the world come to Tibet for many reasons, one of which being the Tibetan Culture and Festivals. As the pioneer of Tibetan tourism for global tourists, we provide premium Tibetan Festival Tour to our clients. And in this summer, our clients have experienced the grand Shoton Festival during their tour in Tibet. Here are some live videos of the Shoton Festival from our clients.

Video about Buddha Exhibition during Shoton Festival

Video about Tibetan Opear Performance during Shoton Festival

Shoton Festival Celebrated 30 Years Ago

As the saying goes, the pendulum has swung back the other way, which means things often change a lot as times goes by. While as is revealed by a set of rare photos, the Shoton Festival nowadays turns out to be the same as it was celebrated 30 years ago. Dating back to early 1980s and 1990s, Shoton Festival was celebrated in a variety of ways, including Tibetan opera performances, Buddha exhibition, yogurt banquet etc. It has been proved that these essential traditions have continued to this day.

In fact, as a unique ethnic group living on the roof of the world, Tibetan people has always cherished and respected their traditions. Many kinds of local customs and festivals are preserved in the original way. This is also a reason why so many tourists, both from the mainland China and overseas, come all the way to Tibet to experience its genuine and unique culture.

Tibetan Opera Dance performed in Shoton Festival 30 years ago

People were enjoying the time for picnic and relaxation in the tent inside the Linka

Two lamas were blowing the horns right before the Thangka Buddha exhibition

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