Ethnic festivals across China lighten up August (3)

Shoton Festival

The Shoton Festival, also known as the Yogurt Banquet Festival, is the second-largest traditional celebration mainly held in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Dating back to the mid-11th century, it first took shape at Drepung Monastery, the largest of Tibetan Buddhism's Gelug Sect. Originally a religious event, it began with locals offering yogurt to Gelug monks after their retreat (from the 15th to 30th day of the sixth Tibetan month, to avoid harming small creatures) – hence its name, with "sho" meaning "yogurt" and "ton" meaning "feast." Over time, it grew into a grand cultural occasion featuring giant Buddha thangka displays and Tibetan opera, earning it the titles "Buddha Display Festival" and "Tibetan Opera Festival."​