Shoton Festival is a traditional Tibetan festival that is usually celebrated at the end of June and the beginning of July in the Tibetan calendar. This festival has a rich cultural connotation and celebrations, mainly including the following aspects:
1.Buddha Basking Ceremony: During the Shoton Festival, the temple unfurls a huge Buddha statue for worshippers to admire and worship. It is a solemn and sacred event that usually takes place early in the morning. 2.Tibetan Opera Performances: During the Shoton Festival, Tibetan opera groups from all over the world gather together to perform wonderfully. Tibetan opera is a kind of performing art rich in local characteristics and folk flavor, and is known as "the living fossil of Tibetan culture". 3.Yogurt feast: Shoton Festival is a festival of yogurt eating, where families make delicious yogurt and share it with friends and family during the festival. Yogurt symbolizes blessings and auspiciousness, implying a happy life, health and happiness. 4.Song and Dance Performances: During the Shoton Festival, the Tibetan people hold various song and dance performances to express their love of life and reverence for nature. Dance, singing, instrumental music and other forms are rich and diverse, full of national characteristics. 5.Garden activities: People will flock to the park, linka and other places to set up tents, lay carpets, put food and wine on the table, and do various outdoor activities such as horse riding, archery, tug-of-war, etc. 6.Temple Activities: During the Shoton Festival, various religious activities such as chanting, prayers, and sayings are held at the temple. During this time, devotees donate money and goods to the temple to express their devotion to the religion and respect for the temple. 7.Respect for the Elderly: During the Shoton Festival, people pay special respect to the elderly, implying respect for ancestors and cherishing traditions.
The Shoton Festival is a festival full of joy, harmony and traditional culture, which not only allows the Tibetan people to celebrate the harvest and enjoy life, but also attracts many tourists to experience and appreciate.