Tibetan Opera performance during the Shoton Festival [Photo/China Tibet Online]

When the summer retreat for their intensive training is over, monks are served with yoghurt. That is said to be the origin of 'Shoton', which is also called the "Yoghurt Festival". At Zhaibung Monastery there are "Cham" dances and the grand thangka is unveiled early in the morning. After devoutly viewing the thangka, the people go onto the Norbulingka and other popular spots for a lingka (picnic). "Shoton" is also known as the "Tibetan Opera Festival" due to the competitive performances of Ache Lhamo (Tibetan Opera) that are held at the Norbulingka.

It is the opera festival and the greatest festivals in Tibet. In ancient times pious folks went into mountain hermitages for penance, and on the last day of which Yoghurt was served for meal followed by entertainment of folk songs and daces. Since 7th century, opera performances were held for days in Norbu Lingka. Presently, opera contests and distribution of prizes are held for seven days.

Shoton means yoghurt, Legend has it that Tsong Khapa, and founder of the Yellow Sect made it a rule that all the Lamas must keep the mind on meditation from the fourth month to the sixth month of Tibetan year. Abstinence is broken by the end of sixth month. Then they may go out and ordinary people would give them yoghurt in charity and have picnic and entertainment hence the festival. Later it became theatrical festival of Tibetan opera. So it is also called Tibetan Opera Festival. During the Shoton Festival, teams of Tibetan opera and theatrical troupes would come to Norbu Lingka to give performances. There is also trade fair here.

The Shoton (or Xuedun) Festival is one of the grandest festivals in Tibet. Prior to the 17th century, Shoton had been an exclusively religious observance. The month of June on the Tibetan calendar was reserved for self-cultivation and meditation for all the monks who were not allowed to go out of monasteries until July 1, when local residents would offer alms of yogurt (Sho, in Tibetan). From around the mid-17th century, Tibetan local operas were added to festival celebrations which were held around monasteries and in Lhasa the Zhaibung Monastery. From the beginning of the 18th century, the main site of the festival was moved to Norbu Lingka and celebrations became formalized which include shining of the Buddha's portrait, folk amusement at the local park and performances of Tibetan operas. Popular fairs are also organized during the festival. Sholdon is the transliteration of two Tibetan words which means "the Yoghurt Banquet"in Tibetan. The festival is for eating yoghurt. The reason of the connection between Shoton and yogurt has a long history. There are more than 300 pieces of regulations in Tibetan religious tenets and the most important is to avoid killing lives. In summer, all the animals come out for food and it is easy to kill those small worms , so during the period from 15th in June to 30th in July, the Lamas are ordered to do nothing but stay in their monastery for penance, which is called "Yale" in Tibetan language . However, staying inside the monastery for the whole day means no enough food for these lamas and it is said that the livestock of the family offering yogurt to lamas will be free of disease and can never get lost, nor were eaten by wild animals. With these known by more and more people, offering yogurt to lamas becomes a common activity on Shoton festival.

For a whole week in early July when Venus appears in the sky every year, Tibetans will bathe themselves all day long in rivers across the region, believing that bathing may cure illness and get rid of misfortune at a time when water is purest and mildest.

According to a Tibetan myth, the gods will descend from the heaven on the 22nd of the ninth month of the Tibetan calendar every year. All monasteries will be open on this day to the needy and prayers and sutra chants will be given.