Jomda County Festivals and Activities

Most Tibetan festivals are full of the color of  religion. In addition to annual large-scale worship rituals to Buddha and Buddhist masters, Tibetan people will also hold a series of festivities associated with religious life and agricultural production consisting of religious festivals and folk ones. There are almost a hundred festivals in a year, some of which even last for ten days.

Qamdo Folk Customs in Tibet

Dressing
Qamdo dressing  represents the regional culture and spirit. People in Qamdo Prefecture are called Kangba people. Men would dress in vigorous and unrestrained, bold and uninhibited clothes which are usually made of the silks and satins, cloth, and fabric and the edges are usually embroidered with otter's skin, tiger's skin, or leopard's skin and etc. They prefer to wear long Tibetan knife, or other weapons. Ladies would dress in very graceful clothes with as many gold and silver as possible, such as red coral earrings, coral, agate, and amber. They usually wear red coral which embroidered the silver and bronze on their forehead. It is said that the red coral was once wore by the imperial concubine of King Gesar. It looks very luxuriant and beautiful.

Festival
Most of the festivals in Qamdo Prefecture are the same with other regions in Tibet Autonomous Region. But some festivals in Qamdo Prefecture are unique and distinctive. For example, the Shoton Festival and Wangkor Festivals are highly celebrated in Lhasa city and other regions in Tibet, but both of them are not available in Qamdo Prefecture.
With the profound history and tradition, Qamdo folk customs related to the business activities in Qamdo Prefecture are very popular and famous, such as Tsongqyue Festival. In 1326, one great master of Kagyu Sect appointed June 15th according to Tibetan calendar to celebrate the completion of the ancestral monastery of Kagyu Sect. The religious ceremonies were greatly held at that time. It is said that people would transact their business  successfully if they worship during Tsongqyue Festival. Therefore Tsongqyue Festival gradually became a very popular and splendid festival in Qamdo Prefecture in Tibet.

 Dancing

Zhuo Dancing
Also called Qamdo "Guozhuang Dancing" Zhuo Dancing is showed by large numbers of people together. It is characteristic of the movements of the foot which  is the most welcomed dancing in Qamdo Prefecture.

Tingqying Repa Dancing
Tingqying Repa Dancing is a comprehensive performance of speaking, singing, dancing, acrobatics and breathing technique. 

Mangkang Chord Dancing
Mangkang Chord Dancing is performed by many men and women together. A man would dance while playing the Urheen. The women would dance with the tune and chime in with men's songs together.

 Religion
Tibet Buddhism was greatly learned in Qamdo Prefecture since the 11th century. Before the introduction of Tibet Buddhism, Qamdo people mainly believed the natural deities. They thought that the deities exist everywhere in their life and fight with the devils for them. Hence they highly respected the deities and worship them very much.
Besides, people also believed the huge rocks, especially the white rock. They believed that the white rock is the essence of the snow mountain. They usually put the white stones on their roof, Manidui, or windowsill, etc.