| Month |
Date |
Festival |
Notes |
| 1st Month |
1st-7th |
New Year Festival Losar |
A week long drama and carnivals, horse races and archery |
| 1st Month |
4th-25th |
Monlam Prayer Festival |
The Great Prayer Festival, a tradition begun by Tsong Khapa. Many pilgrims gather at Jokhang in Lhasa |
| 1st Month |
15th |
Lantern Festival |
Commemorates Buddha's miracle at Sravasti. Fires are lit on roofs, and lamps in windows |
| 2nd Month |
28th-29th |
- |
Festival to drive out evil spirits and expel the scapegoat. Lamas encircle Lhasa with trumpets |
| 4th Month |
7th |
Pilgrim Festival |
Important month for pilgrims. -the birth of Buddha Sakyamuni |
| 4th Month |
15th |
Saka dawa |
Celebrates the birth and Enlightenment of Sakyamuni and his entry to Nirvana. An outdoor opera is held and captured animals released. Worshippers flock to the Jokhang in Lhasa to pray. |
| 5th Month |
14th-16th |
Hanging of the Thangka |
A giant thangka is hung at Tashilhunpo in Shigatse |
| 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 at Norbulingka. 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 as Chokbori |
| 6th month |
6th |
Cham-ngyon-wa, or "Old Dance" |
Celebrated at the Cho-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 away passion, greed and jealousy and to abandon ego. Ritual bathing in rivers takes place and picnics are held |
| 8th Month |
1st-10th |
Dajyur Festival |
The Dayjur is held in Gyantse and Damxung -horse racing and light hearted sports competitions and games takes places |
| 8th Month |
1st-7th |
Harvest Festival |
The festival is held with prayers, dancing, singing and drinking |
| 9th Month |
22nd |
- |
Buddha's descent from heaven after preaching to his mother is commemorated. All monasteries 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 in Shigatse |
| 12th Month |
5th-6th |
Meeting of the Eight Guardians |
The Meeting of the Eight Guardians and demons where Tibetans stay indoors to avoid evil 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. |