Losar (New Year Festival)-The Tibetan’s most colorful celebration, often with performances of Tibetan drama and incense offerings made by pilgrims. Various traditions exist across Tibet. Lhasa is probably one of the best places to be to see this celebration. Mönlam (Great Prayer Festival)-The image of Maitreya is paraded from the Jokhang around Barkhor by monks from Lhasa’s three main monasteries. Lantern Festival (Day of Offerings)-This is also know as the butter sculpture festival. All around Lhasa’s Barkhor pilgrim route, huge sculptures of yak butter are displayed.
Saga Dawa (Buddha’s Enlightenment)-This day celebrates Buddha’s (Sakyamuni) moment of enlightenment and entry into nirvana. Many pilgrims are drawn by this day and typically there are outdoor opera performances. Gyantse Horse-Racing Festival-A traditional festival that includes games, dancing, picnics, archery and equestrian events.
Drepung Zoton (Yogurt Festival)-This occurs at the Drepung monastery and involves hanging a monumental thangka. The festival then moves down to Norbulingka accompanied by masked dancing by the monks and operas.
Bathing Festival-During this time Tibetans wash away the grime of the previous year as a purification act. Damzhung Horse Racing Festival-Horse-racing, archery and other traditional nomad sports take place in Damzhung.
Lhabab Düchen-This festival commemorates Budda’s descent from heaven to earth and is also a time for many pilgrims. Many monasteries repaint rocks with ladders to symbolize the event. Palden Lhamo-This day honors the protective deity of Jokhang, whose image is then paraded around the Barkhor.