Shoton Festival of Tibet

The prelude of the Shoton Festival is the Buddha exhibition in Drepung Monastery, which is held at the foot of the Gebeiwoze Mountain. The tranquil valley becomes excited. With the sound of sutra bugle reverberating through the valley, about 100 lamas will carry the large-scale thangka portraying Qamba Buddha (or Maitreya) out of the Coqen Hall of the Drepung Monastery and step toward the west of the monastery where a special platform is set up for the Buddha picture exhibition.

At this moment, the mulberry smoke arises from all directions, bugles resound and scripture reciting goes on. The large thangka then will be slowly opened up. People rush up to offer white Hada. Countless Hada fly in front of the Buddha picture, forming a great scene. In no more than 2 hours, the tangka will be rolled up again and carried back. Then people go to the courtyard of Gandain Phodrang to watch Tibetan Opera.

After the Thangka exhibition in Drepung Monastery, Shonton Festival will still last with strong happy atmosphere for several days. During those days, a great number of people will gather with their family and friends in Norbulingka Park to have a family picnic and enjoy wonderful Tibetan shows. The grounds of the Norbulingka are filled with partying groups by gaily colored hanging walls of beautiful rugs and printed canvas. In the afternoon of the first day, Norbulingka turns to a center of activities, and many well-known Tibetan opera teams will perform the traditional performance to please the people. This park will be filled with sings and laughers.

As a tradition passing down, eating Yoghurt is also a way to celebrate Shoton Festival. Nowadays, the Shoton Festival has become a comprehensive celebration activity with the most influences in Tibet. It is also a grand meeting for commodity exchanges.