The Tibet Shoton Festival this year lasts from August 10-15, one of the significant and popular pageant.
Shoton Festival, also known as Tibetan Opera Festival, is one of the major festivals in Tibet. The founder of the Gelugpa (Yellow Sect of Buddhism), Tsongkhapa set the rule that Buddhists can cultivate themselves only indoor in summer, to avoid killing other creatures carelessly. Because creatures are most active in summer .This rule must be carried out till the seventh lunar month. Then Buddhists go outdoors, accept yoghurt served by local people, and have fun. Since the middle of 17th century, the Fifth Dalai Lama added opera performance to this festival. Famous Tibetan opera troupes perform in Norbulingka (Dalai Lama's summer palace).
As the beginning of the festival, Thangka (Buddha painting scroll) unveiling ceremony in Drepung Monastery is the most remarkable. The 500-square-meter painting of Sakyamuni is gradually open on the hillside back of the monastery as the light in the very first morning strike on the large Thangka at eight o'clock. The ceremony is called 'Buddha basking in the sun'.
Tibetan Opera is another big draw which is to be carried on since the second day of the festival. Shows can be admired in Norbulingka and Longwangtan Park opposite the Potala Palace. The Tibetans sit on mat with families and friends, drink butter tea and chang, taste dessert and watch the opera while waving the prayer wheel or finger the rosary in hand. These opera parties will perform in every corner of Lhasa city area.
Editor: Susan
Date: 29/07/2010