The Shoton Festival in Lhasa: It is one of the grandest festivals of Tibet . This festival starts on the 30th of the sixth Tibetan month and will last for seven days. The founder of the yellow sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Tsong Khapa stipulated that in summer time all monks should stay in the monasteries to avoid any accidental killing of lives as it is the most active season for animals. At the time the monks got out of monasteries, pilgrims came to serve them with yoghurt. Later, the fifth Dalai Lama's added Tibetan opera performances at Norbulinka and allowed common people to enjoy it. Then it gradually becomes a public festival during which, giant Thangkas of the Buddha will be unveiled at Drepung Monastery and Tibetan opera troupes perform operas at Norbulingka.

Lohsar: It is one of the biggest festivals of the Buddhists. In Tibetan, “LO” means year and “SAR” means new. Thus Lohsar means New Year. During this festival, even the young Tibetans wear Chuba and entertain themselves with music, games, drinks and parties etc. Generally, the house lady goes and fetches water early in the morning from the well after worshipping the Water God. Then she prepares porridge from “chang” (a brew made from barley). After drinking the porridge, with special Tibetan bread called “Khapse” along with many other nuts and sweets, it is also offered to each other and the whole day is spent in merry making. Some play Sho (Dice).

Monalm Festival: In Tibetan language, Monlam means prayer. It has its origin in a prayer meeting organized in Jokhang Temple by Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelukpa Sect, in 1409. Thousands of people from far and near gather to celebrate this festival. During this festival prayers services are held at the monasteries and “Chams” (Tibetan dances) are organized.
Chotrul Duechen: It is also called the Butter Lamp Festival. It is celebrated by lighting many butter lamps to honor the victory of the Sakayamuni in a debate. It is a celebration of Buddha's miracle at Sravasti. During this festival, some debates are organized and the winner is honored. Gigantic butter sculptures are erected around the Barkhor.

Saga Dawa (May or June): This is one of the most important festivals of Tibetan Buddhism. This festival is on the 15th of the fourth Tibetan month. It is believed that Sakyamuni's birth; enlightenment and nirvana are all on this date. “Chams” and religious gatherings are organized during this festival. During this day, many people donate lots of things to poor people to gain merit. Almost every person within Lhasa joins in circum ambulating round the city and spends there late afternoon on picnic at " Dzongyab Lukhang" park at the foot of Potala. On this day, streets are just crowded with stream of people.

Bathing Week: In the 7th month in Tibetan calendar or in September is the period when, it is believed when the sacred planet Venus appears in the Sky, the water in the river becomes purest and cure diseases and washes away greed, hate and delusion. During its appearance for one week in the sky, all the people in Tibet bathe in the river. Tibetan people think the water is specially holy and clean during this week. They believe that the dirt can be washed off, illness can be cured and their health can be improved. During the week, people all go to riverbanks for bathing, washing their clothes and playing at their pleasure.
Gyantse Horse Race (May or June): Horse race and archer are generally popular in Tibet, and Gyantse has the honor of being the earliest in history dating back to as early as 1408 to organize horse racing.Contests in early times included horse race, archery, and Shooting on gallop followed by a few days' entertainment or picnicking. Presently, ball games, track and field events, folk songs and dances, barter trade are in addition to the above.

Changthang Kyagqen Horse Racing Festival: Archery contests on horseback is popular throughout the Tibetan plateau. It is one of the most important festivals in North Tibet to mark the golden season in the grassland. Thousands of herdsmen demonstrate thrilling horse races, archery and horsemanship. Song and dance troupes from all part of Tibet add to the fun.
Drukpa Tseshi: Also called the Choekhor Duechen, this festival is celebrated in memory of the first teaching of the Budddha Sakayamuni at Buddha Gaya at the age of 35. During this festival pilgrims climb holy mountains around Lhasa especially the Gephel RI behind the Drepung Monastery. Most people recite prayers and later they enjoy picnics and make themselves busy in merry making.

Ghost Exorcising Festival:It is a festival to drive out evil and the old year. Houses are meticulously cleaned to get rid of misfortune and pray for Godly blessing. “Cham” dances and sorcerer's dance are performed in monasteries throughout Tibet . On this day every family come out of their house after dinner with torches and howl collectively to shoo away evil and ensure a new year without misfortune.
Ngachu Chenmo: This festival is celebrated mainly as the anniversary of the passing away of the Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelukpa sect of Buddhism. On this day, butter lamps are placed on the roofs of all monasteries and people recite prayers in praise of Tsong Khapa.

Harvest Festival (September): The farmers in Lhasa , Gyantse and Shangnan celebrate their bumper harvest in this time. During that time, people enjoy with horse racing games, costume fashion show, songs and dance Archery and picnic etc. It is an occasion that Tibetans long for a bumper harvest. When the important moment comes, people in their colorful clothes uphold colored flags with good wishes. They make a pagoda of harvest with the ceremonial scarves twining round the highland barley and the wheat ears, beating drums and gongs, singing in their odes and walk around the fields in prayers for a bumper harvest, and then followed by a horse race. The autumn harvest starts as soon as the festival is over.

Heavenly Maid Festival: It is well known as the Celestial Mother Festival or Belha Rabzhol in Tibetan. Each year, on the 15th of the tenth month in Tibetan calendar, religious activities are held in temples throughout Tibet . Tibetan women love the festival because they think this is a special occasion for them; therefore, they look very active and feel extremely happy.
Butter Lamp Festival: The Butter Lamp Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month every year. Tsong Khapa, Founder of Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, to celebrate the victory of Sakyamuni against heretics in a religious debate, established it. Monks from monasteries and local artists make various-shaped butter flowers with colored butter in pyramids in front the Jokhang Temple . In the evening, after the butter lamps are lit, their lights look just like stars dazzling in the sky. The pyramids made of butter include of immortals, animals, flying birds, beasts, and flowers.

The Festival of driving out evil spirits: Every 29th of the twelfth month in Tibetan calendar is a big day for the sorcerer dancing held by monasteries all over Tibet . Households clean their houses thoroughly and decorate them beautifully. Because the New Year is coming, the dirty things and evils must be cleared away, people pray for their families for good health and wish a bumper harvest for the coming year.

The Six Four Festival: On the fourth of the sixth month in Tibetan calendar, in Lhasa area, people in their new clothes go into temples nearby. With their offerings to Buddha, they pray to the Buddha's images for blessing in murmurs. After that, they go out into the open grass with drinks to their heart's content and dance happily.
Tsongkapa's Death Anniversary: It is held on the 25th day of the 10th month, which is in November or December in Gregorian calendar. It is the day on which Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelug Sect met his demise. Every household light slamps on roofs of houses and windowsills chanting prayers in memory of Tsongkapa in the night.