Shoton Festival to attend international festival meeting

10:36, August 09, 2012  

Lhasa Shoton Festival, a major traditional festival celebrated by southwest China's Tibet, is invited to attend the annual meeting of International Festivals and Events Association from Sept. 19 to 29, said a government official in Lhasa.

"The Lhasa Shoton Festival, dubbed as a unique Chinese festival, will be made into a world festival," said Ren Jiangga, executive vice secretary-general of the municipal government of Lhasa and office administrator of Lhasa Shoton Festival committee.

Lhasa will learn advanced concepts, modes in organizing festivals across the world, and show the cultural connotation, brand feature and value of Shoton Festival to the world as well.

This year's Shoton Festival will be held from August 17 to 23 with the theme of "Blessed Lhasa, Cultural Shoton".

The festival features over 10 activities, including traditional activities of Buddha Thangka painting unfolding and Tibetan Opera, sport activities of horsemanship performance, yak racing and "Namtso" International Hiking Tour , as well as other activities such as "Shoton Star" singing contest and Beer Festival.

The traditional activities of Buddha painting unfolding and Tibetan Opera will attract not only local Tibetans but also tourists across the world.

"Youngsters prefer the "Shoton Star" singing contest and foreign friends like the "Namtso" International Hiking Tour," explained Ma Xinming, head of publicity department and member of the standing committee of municipal party committee of Lhasa.

Originated from the 11th century, the Shoton Festival has been inscribed into the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2006.

Source: China Tibet Online

（Editor：陈丽丹、姚春）