TIBETAN SHAMAN FESTIVAL – July 1st to 13th, 2025

Shamanism is a tradition that goes back before Buddhism was introduced in Tibet. Every year, during the sixth month of the lunar calendar, monastic feasts unfold. This Tibetan Shaman Festival photo tour will walk you through the preparation of the festival, as well as the different celebrations that take place during this special time.

The festivities include the deployment of thangka, masked dances performed by monks, and various ceremonies. Monastic dances, such as the cham dance associated with different schools of Tibetan Buddhism, are dynamic performances featuring dancers adorned in masks and special costumes. Accompanied by traditional Tibetan instruments played by monks, these dances convey moral instructions and bestow merit upon observers. The masks worn during these dances represent historical figures from Tibet and great Buddhist masters. They also embody qualities to be cultivated: compassion, energy, and knowledge. Each monastery showcases specific dances with wooden or papier-mâché masks crafted by renowned artists. Some masks are centuries old, while others are more recent, collectively representing a cultural, artistic, and religious heritage that has been upheld since the 8th century.

In a constantly evolving society, this trip is a unique chance to witness and capture some ancestral Tibetan and Shamanic traditions that are still preserved to this day, discover the life of locals and shoot some portraits photo, and immerse yourself in Tibetan Buddhism.