The Shoton（Xuedun,雪顿节） Festival is one of the annual typical Tibetan festivals in Lhasa. During the festival, there will be lots of dancing and singing shows by all the performing groups (professional and local). Including the horse racing and Yak racing. This Shoton festival began from 20th Aug to 26th Aug, there will be an international Marathon as well. anyway, it is an important chance to touch the Tibetan culture. If you have the permition, why not goto Lhasa and enjoy the special Tibetan festival?
拉萨雪顿节概述
藏历六月底七月初，是传统的”雪顿节”（藏语为”酸奶节”），由于后来”雪顿节”逐渐以演藏戏为主，故又称”藏戏节”。西藏各地的专业和业余藏戏剧团聚集在拉萨的罗布林卡轮流公演传统剧目和新编藏戏。同时，还要举办物质交易会。因为雪顿节期间有隆重热烈的藏戏演出和规模盛大的晒佛仪式，所以有人也称之为”藏戏节”、”展佛节”。传统的雪顿节以展佛为序幕，以演藏戏看藏戏、群众游园为主要内容，同时还有精彩的赛牦牛和马术表演等。2009年拉萨雪顿节是8月20号开始，8月26号结束，同时期间将有拉萨国际马拉松比赛一起进行。
节日活动的中心在拉萨西郊的罗布林卡。这里从前是西藏地方政教首领达赖喇嘛的夏日园林。节日来临，罗布林卡以及周围的树林里，一夜之间便会涌现一座色彩鲜艳的帐篷城市，还形成几条热闹繁华的节日市街，几乎整个拉萨城都搬进了这片绿色天地，所有的人都在歌声舞蹈中过着野外生活，深沉热烈的歌声伴着高原特有的乐器在树影里传播，这是拉萨人最有活力的日子。
拉萨雪顿节概述
雪顿节起源于公元11世纪中叶，那时雪顿节是一种纯宗教活动。民间相传，佛教的戒律有三百多条，最忌讳的是杀生害命。由于夏季天气变暖，草木滋长，百虫惊蛰，万物复苏，其间僧人外出活动难免踩杀生命，有违”不杀生”之戒律。因此，格鲁派的戒律中规定藏历四月至六月期间，喇嘛们只能在寺院待着，关门静静地修炼，称为”雅勒”，意即”夏日安居”，直到六月底方可开禁。待到解制开禁之日，僧人纷纷出寺下山，世俗老百姓为了犒劳僧人，备酿酸奶，为他们举行郊游野宴，并在欢庆会上表演藏戏。这就是雪顿节的由来。
雪顿节相关活动
雪顿节，是西藏最隆重的节日，千千万万的佛教徒从全世界涌向拉萨，以最虔诚的心、一步一个顶礼膜拜，朝圣道至高无上的佛祖。佛教信徒们到山上去修行，修行完毕时家里的亲人带着酸奶到山上去迎接他们，在回家的路上人们吃酸奶、跳舞、唱歌。每年此时，西藏各地的藏戏主要流派会聚在拉萨罗布林卡连续几天进行表演和比赛，其场面热闹非凡。最隆重的晒佛仪式、最欢腾的藏戏表演，还有赛牦牛、歌舞表演，神秘的西藏风情尽在眼下。
哲蚌寺晒佛
作为节日的序幕，哲蚌寺展佛是最令人瞩目的仪式。早上8点钟，哲蚌寺背后的半山腰上，在第一缕曙光的辉映下，伴着凝重、庄严的法号声，一幅500平方米的、用五彩丝绸织就的巨大释迦牟尼像徐徐展露出祥和的容颜……数万名信徒和深受感染的游客无不双手合十，顶礼膜拜。
哲蚌寺，是公元1416年由藏传佛教格鲁派”黄教”创始人宗喀巴的四弟子降央曲结所建，占地25万平方米，是西藏最大的佛教寺院，建筑群分4500平方米的措钦大殿、堆松拉康三世佛殿、四大扎仓(经学院)、甘丹颇章大殿等，因其白色外墙建筑依山而建，从远处看来像很大的米堆，而米堆在藏语称作哲蚌，这就是哲蚌寺名称的由来。
藏戏
藏戏演出为另一重头戏。从雪顿节的第二天开始，在罗布林卡、布达拉宫对面的龙王潭公园内，藏戏队伍每天不停歇地从上午11点直唱到暮色降临。据说，因为时间有限，这已经是提取剧目中的精华部分，否则一出戏会唱上几天，表演者自得其乐，观赏者更是乐此不疲。
卡垫铺在草地上，亲朋好友闲适地围坐在一起，摆上一路背来的青稞酒、酥油茶，还有自己做的各种藏式点心，很多藏民一边听着藏戏，一边摇着手中的转经筒，或是捻着佛珠。
藏戏的故事，有《诺萨法王》、《文成公主》等，其高亢动人的唱腔、抑扬顿挫的独白、神奇瑰丽的脸谱、古朴肃穆的服饰、优美动人的舞姿，历经600余年的洗练，藏戏散发着一种浑然天成、底蕴丰厚的独特魅力。
Tags: Lhasa, Shoton, Tibet, xuedun festival, 雪顿节
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如何办理外国人入藏函
外国人入藏旅游批准函
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1、 How can foreigners go to Tibet?
Tibet Permit
Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) Permit
Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) Permits are necessary for entry to Lhasa or any other part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and are obtained through tour operators as part of arrangements for travel; A T.T.B. permit does not obviate the need for an Aliens’ Travel Permit for any closed areas that may be visited. But you can get them easily from our Lhasa office.
Important Issues about Tibet Travel Permit
1. All kinds of people can get Tibet permit through a travel agency except diplomats, journalists, and government officials who should travel to Tibet under the arrangement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government.
2. After having a permit, a travel agency could buy you the air tickets, and you can pass the check-in at the airport and the check point reroute with the permit.
3.You are not allowed to bring with the TTB permit and travel to anywhere outside of Lhasa city you want because except Lhasa you need another permit named as “Aliens’ Permit”.
4. Generally it needs three days to get the Tibet permit if you could supply the full necessary documents.
Aliens’ Travel Permits (PSB’s)
These are required to visit closed areas – much of the Tibetan Autonomous Region outside the Lhasa prefecture-level district, and scattered counties elsewhere. They are usually only obtainable through tour operators, for tours by four-wheel-drive car.
Permits to visit places that are not declared open are known as Aliens’ Travel Permits, or PSB’s. They are issued by the police (Public Security Bureau, “PSB”). A single permit is normally issued to all the people who are traveling together, the permit naming just one of them and stating how many others are accompanying him; the passports, or at least photocopies of passports and visas, of all persons traveling must be presented in order to obtain a permit.
If you want to do an overland tour from Yunnan, Sichuan, Qinghai or Xinjiang province to Tibet, you must got the PSB permit before your tour starts.
Notice:
1. Generally it takes three days to get the Tibet permit if you could supply the full necessary documents. After having a permit, a travel agency could buy you the air tickets, and you can pass the check-in at the airport.
2. The following details of the travelers are required for Permit: name, nationality, passport number, sex, date of birth and occupation.
3.if you do not book any tour(Like Land cruiser with driver ,guide ) from us, we can not help you get the permits. No travel agency can provide “permit-only” service.
4.Only the guide could hold the permit after you in Tibet. You are not allowed to bring with it and travel to anywhere you want because except Lhasa you need another permit named as “Aliens¡¯ Permit”. Otherwise if you are stopped by the police you will be sent out of Tibet or have trouble politically and economically. Furthermore, the travel agency which helped to get you the permit will also be in trouble.
5.When you apply for China visa, please do not mention Tibet. After you get China visa you can easily get Tibet permit. Otherwise you have to wait for Tibet permit and then you can get China visa. Of course you will face the risk of that you might be refused to come to Tibet even if you get China visa but your destination is Tibet.
-Our company can help you get all the permit you needed travel in Tibet.
-More details please contact with us :
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