I found that the Shoton Festival is a great subject for cultural photography~~
Shoton Festival
The Shoton Festival isa traditional festival of theTibetan people, and is also currentlythe Tibet Autonomous Region’sofficial holiday. It is held from the 15th day of the 6th month to the 30th day of the 7th month in the Tibetan calendar. “Sho” and “ton” in Tibetan mean “yogurt” and “feast,” so the Shoton Festival means the festival of eatingyogurt.Because during the Shoton Festival there are grand-scale Buddha exhibition ceremonies and lively and festiveTibetan operaperformances, it is also called the Buddha Exhibition Festival or Tibetan Opera Festival.
The traditional Shoton Festival begins with the unveiling of Buddhist thangkas. Its main activities include watching Tibetan opera performances and enjoying garden outings by the public, along with exciting yak racing andequestrianshows. The 2009 Lhasa Shoton Festival in Tibet began on August 20th and ended on August 26th, with the Lhasa International Marathon taking place concurrently. The center of the festival activities isLhasa’swestern suburb,Norbulingka.This place was formerly the summer garden of the Tibetan religious and political leader,the Dalai Lama.When the festival arrives, Norbulingka and the surrounding woods are suddenly filled overnight with brightly colored tents, along with several bustling festival streets. Almost the entire population of Lhasa moves into this green oasis, and everyone spends their days outdoors singing and dancing. Deep, passionate songs accompanied by uniquely Tibetan instruments echo through the trees—it's the most vibrant time of the year for Lhasa residents.
The Buddha exhibition ceremony
serves as the opening event of the festival, and the thangka unveiling at Drepung Monastery is the most eye-catching ceremony. At 8 a.m.,on the mountainside behindDrepung Monastery,bathed inthe first rays of dawnand accompanied by the solemn sound of ritual horns, a massive 500-square-meterstatue of Shakyamuni Buddha, woven from colorful silk, is slowly unveiled to reveal its serene visage... Tens of thousands of devotees and deeply moved tourists all press their palms together in reverence.
Tibetan Opera Performances
Tibetan opera performances are another major highlight. Starting from the second day of the Shoton Festival, at Norbulingka and Longwangtan Park opposite the Potala Palace, Tibetan opera troupes perform non-stop from 11 a.m. until sunset every day. It’s said that due to time constraints, these are condensed versions of the full operas—otherwise, a single performance could go on for days. The performers enjoy themselves immensely, and the audience is equally enthralled.
Picnicking in the Park
Tibetans love to have picnics in the park. In the seven days leading up to the Shoton Festival, people—either in groups or as families—mark out spots on the park lawns with ropes or lime to claim them. On the day of the festival, everyone arrives early in the parkgrounds,setting up colorful tents, laying out cushions and carpets, and arranging a variety of drinks, festive foods, and dishes. Under the towering poplar trees, on lush green lawns, and beside beautiful rivers and streams, you can see Tibetans in bright attire—whether with family or invited friends—gathered in small groups, singing and drinking heartily inside the tents while also playing traditional Tibetan games like Tibetan chess and card games.
Yogurt Banquet
In the past, during the Shoton Festival, all of Lhasa’s nobility, high lamas, and local government officials—both monastic and secular—would arrive early at Norbulingka to accompany the Dalai Lama to watch the operas and attend the yogurt banquets hosted by the local government.During the Shoton Festival, the Dalai Lama’s summer palace was open to the public for five days, symbolizing a rare occasion of shared joy between the divine ruler and his people. Everyone would dress in festive clothes, wear all their jewelry, bring yogurt and various foods and drinks, and enter the sacred gardens with a mix of excitement and nervousness. During the performances, crowding, loud talking, or standing up were not allowed—any slight misbehavior would be met with swift punishment as the “Guanjiaba” (enforcers) would rain down blows with their long bamboo sticks.
Photography Guide for the Shoton Festival
Best Season for Photography
The Shoton Festival in Lhasa takes place each year in midsummer. Though called midsummer, it’s actually the most comfortable season for photography tourism in Tibet. Aside from slightly more rainfall, the weather is pleasant, and the oxygen levels are higher than in other seasons.
Recommended Photography Locations
Focus mainly on Drepung Monastery and Norbulingka. Drepung Monastery is ideal for photographing the morning ceremony of unfurling the giant thangka, while Norbulingka is perfect for capturing Tibetan opera performances in the afternoon and over the following days.
Travel Tips for the Shoton Festival
1. In the early part of the Shoton Festival, precipitation in Lhasa city mainly occurs in the evening and at night, which has little impact on outdoor excursions. In the later part of the festival, some areas may experience short-term severe convective weather—be sure to guard against lightning, hail, and other hazards. Daytime UV radiation is strong, so take precautions against sunburn. There is also a large temperature difference between day and night, so dress accordingly when going out.
2. Altitude Sickness: Tibet has an average altitude of over 3,000 meters, so those traveling from lowland areas should take precautions against altitude sickness. It’s always wise to be well prepared. There are generally two methods for preventing altitude sickness, suited to two types of travelers. For those who have ample time before their trip, start taking Rhodiola rosea products about half a month before entering Tibet. For those who need to enter Tibet on short notice without much preparation time, fast-acting oxygen supplements like Aomoxiyang tablets are a good choice—you can take them upon arrival or at the onset of symptoms, and both types of products can be used in combination to effectively manage altitude sickness.