In Tibet, there are many festivals throughout the year that
attract the faithful as well as curious onlookers. Dancing monks can be seen
in the Year End Festival (February-March) held to dispel the evil of the old
year and auspiciously usher in the new one; Losar (New Year Festival) is a
colorful week of activities (February-March), including Tibetan drama,
pilgrims making incense offerings and Tibetans dressed in their finest
crowding the streets; cham dancing and chang drinking are the order of the
day at the Tsurphu Festival (May-June) -- the highlight is the dance of the
Karmapa.
The Gyantse Horse Racing Festival is a traditional event
that takes place in June and features dances, picnics, archery and
equestrian events; the Chökor Duchen Festival, held in Lhasa around
August-September, celebrates Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath near Varanasi;
the Bathing Festival (September-October) sees locals washing away the grime
of the previous years in river; Lhabab Düchen (November-December)
commemorates Buddha's descent from heaven.
