Editor’s Note Shoton (Sour Milk Drinking) Festival is held in Tibet from the 3th day to 8th of the 6th Tibetan month (or late August). It generally lasts for six days. With the market economy booming, the cultural festival has been enriched to cover the exchange of materials.

Shoton, meaning “sour milk drinking feast” in Tibetan, is famous in Tibet largely because it is the time to watch organized Tibetan opera performances, while giant tangka paintings of Buddha are also displayed. Therefore, the Shoton Festival is also known as “Tibetan Opera Festival” and “Giant Painting of Buddha Displaying Festival.”

The traditional Shoton Festival begins with the display of the giant paintings of Buddha, and is highlighted by Tibetan opera performances, public visit to parks, yak races and demonstrations of horsemanship.

The Gelug Sect, therefore, regulated that monks should stay in the monasteries to recite sutras between the 4th and 6th Tibetan months. They were supposed to go out at the end of the 6th month. Then, lay people would prepare food to entertain them. Sour milk feasts would be held, and Tibetan opera performances organized.
It was the routine that Tibetans in their tens of thousands would throng the Zhaibung Monastery to offer sour milk to the Dalai Lama and monks, and in return receiving a blessing touch on their foreheads. Local Tibetan opera performing troupes and wild yak racing teams came to add luster to the occasion. Gradually, the Shoton Festival came into being.

As the Buddhist horns were blown to raise a din that echoed through the valley where the people had gathered, close to 100 monks carried a roll of silk painting of Qamba Buddha out of the Coqen Hall of Ta’er Monastery. They went direct to the place from where the painting would be rolled down the slope; tree branches were burnt to create auspicious smoke; and the people recited sutras.
As the painting was being rolled down the slope, worshippers presented it with hada scarves.
Measuring 30 meters long and 30 meters wide, the painting has Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism, in the center. He holds a metal object in his left hand and his right hand points to the ground with a threatening posture against devils. Around him are other deities.

The tangka painting kept in the monastery is shown only once a year. Hence, many call the festival “Sunning Buddha”. It would be displayed for one hour and then brought back to the Coqen Hall.

This was followed by the staging of Tibetan opera performances in the Front Courtyard of the Gandain Phodrang. After the opera, the festival comes to an end.