All One One World One Love One People One God Rhythm of Life
Tibet
Festivals
Losar is a three day festival which celebrates the New Year beginning February or early March.
On the first day, people wake up before sunrise to make offerings, such as prayer flags and juniper branches, at temples and home altars.
On the second day, the party begins with feasting, music, dance, and more fun with family and friends.
On the third day, prayer services are held on rooftops, special pastries are eaten, and yak butter and barley beer are the beverages as the party continues.
Monlam Chemno, the Great Prayer Festival, is a time to pray for harvest and peace universally. Historically, this was the time when Buddha won at a debating contest. At Lhasa, the monks and pilgrims would gather for scholarly debates, theatrical entertainment, colorful parades,horse racing, speeches from honorable people, and donations of money for the poor.
Saka Dawa, Tibetans celebrate the beginning and ending of life of the Great Buddha. Tibetans believe he was born on the fifteenth day of the fourth month (June) and had his famous vision also. Some pilgrims travel for days to reach Lhasa. When they arrive, birds and animals are freed of their cages in celebration of the Buddhist belief that living things should not be harmed. On this day, Tibetans walk, the most devout lay down, on the holy route (four mi/six km ) around Lhasa's old section.
Linka, is a summer picnic festivals when Tibetan families come together. Some are small gatherings, others thousands come from all over. Special white tents appear and everyone enjoys tea, barley beer, wholesome meals, sweets, nuts, and red cakes. These gatherings are entertained with singing, dancing, and opera.
The
Washing Festival, in the seventh month (September), everybody goes to the
river.
Parent
wash themselves, their clothes, and their children.
This
ritual cleansing is like a community bath.
It
is like giving thanks for the blessings of our
Mother
Earth.
Lha-Sol