Best time to go to Tibet

Tashi Lhunpo Thangka Festival 2024

This bright festival is unique to the Tashi Lhunpo monastery and attracts thousands of pilgrims and visitors

Dates: June 20-22, 2024

Tashi Lhunpo Thangka Festival
Tashi Lhunpo Thangka Festival

Thangka is a famous Tibetan festival celebrated in various monasteries. But the most popular place to watch the unique celebrations is the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. It is a real symbol of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and the whole Shigatse area.

It's held every year during three days (14-16) of the fifth lunar Tibetan month. This event was created 500 years ago by the first Dalai Lama—Gendun Drupa. Each day of the celebration a new unique portrait of Buddha is exhibited. The first one represents the past, on the second day Buddha's picture represents the present, and on the last day, it will represent the future. Every portrait was hand embroidered on silk or satin.

The highlight of the festival is a spectacular Buddha unfolding ceremony. Thousands of pilgrims come to observe the unfurling of a huge painted Thanka. Traditional music and Cham dancers performances are also part of the celebration, which make it even more colourful and attractive.

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Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin