2023 Shoton Festival

Description

Drepung and Sera monasteries will be the two major locations that to held the main ceremony of Thangkar unfolding during 2019 Shoton Festival. “Shoton” is translated as ‘Yogurt Festival’ in Tibetan. Traditionally, monks are required to remain sequestered in their monasteries for the ascetic practice of Bbuddhism. People from their families prepared sour milk for them to drink with dancing following their period of confinement. In the early 17^th century, the Shoton festival became a joint performance with Tibetan operas. Tibetan artists from all over Tibet came together in Norbu Lingka to have a performance competition lasting several days. During this period, the Drepung Monastery held a large portrait of Buddha displaying ceremony, Thangkar Unfolding.

Itinerary

This tour requires a confirmation of 20 days minimum before your departure in order to apply your Tibet Travel Permit

D1 Arrive in Lhasa

Arrive in Lhasa Arrive in Lhasa airport, meet your guide, and then drive to your hotel. En route, we’ll visit to Nie-Tang Buddha, a Buddha image engraved in the face of the mountain. In the afternoon we’ll take a walk to Norbulingka, the former summer palace of Dalai Lama.

Overnight: Dekang Hotel — Include | Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner — Not include

D2 Lhasa visit

We’ll visit Potala Palace, Jokhang temple and Barkhor Street.
Potala Palace , the winter palace of the Dalai Lama dominates the skyline of Lhassa atop the crest of Marpo Ri hill, the seventh-century Potala is considered Lhasa’s holiest destination for a pilgrimage. Going up the hill, a stone path leads to the 14-story, 1,000-room. Each day, thousands of pilgrims give the prayer wheels a clockwise spin as they make their way to the entrance.
The Jokhang Temple is the home of the statutes of the revered Buddha, Shakyamuni. While all Buddhist statues are adorned with colorful brocade, pearls, turquoise, coral, and silver, solid gold bowls of holy water rest before Shakyamuni as well as offerings of Yuan (money) and khatas (scarves) left by pilgrims.
Then after we will stroll around in the Barkhor street

Overnight: Dekang Hotel | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

D3 Lhasa, Shoton festival – Great Thangkar unfolding

Today should be the day that the huge Thangkar being showed in front of Drepung monastery. In the afternoon, we will drive southwest to visit Yamdrok lake, which is one of the 4 holiest lake in Tibet

Overnight: Dekang Hotel | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

D4 Lhasa visit

Visit Sera monastery, Chaqi, and Nechung monasteries.
Sera Monastery is one of the three largest monasteries of Gelugpa. It is located at the foot of Hill Tatipu. It is as prestigious as Drepung and Ganden, which had a long history. Sera in Tibetan means “Wild Rose Garden” since opulent wild rose woods once grew around it.
Chaqi monastery, which is supposed to help make people wealthy, and Nechung Monastery the seat of Nechung, Tibet’s State Oracle. Major decisions of the state are made in consultation with the Nechung Oracle.

Overnight: Dekang Hotel | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

D5 Lhasa Departure

Your tour ends today, you will be driven to airport or train station for departure.

Overnight — Not include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include