28th Shoton Festival Kicks Off in Dharamshala, Drawing Record Participation to Mark the Year of Compassion
Dharamshala: The 28th Annual Tibetan Shoton Festival (Yoghurt Festival) in exile commenced today at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) in Dharamshala, celebrating the vibrant tradition of Tibetan opera from 7–19 May 2025.
This year’s festival marks a particularly significant occasion—the Year of Compassion—honouring His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s upcoming 90th birthday. In a record turnout, 14 opera troupes from various Tibetan settlements and schools are participating, with nearly 50 percent comprising student performers. This strong youth presence highlights the successful transmission of Tibetan cultural heritage to newer generations living in exile.
On the opening day, each of the participating troupes—including TIPA, Nepal Opera Association, Chaksampa Opera Company, Mundgod Opera Association, Bhandara Opera Association, Kalimpong Opera Association, Tibetan Homes Foundation School, Odisha Opera Association, Paonta Opera Association, Kollegal Opera Association, Upper TCV School, TCV Chauntra, Mainpat Opera Association, and Bylakuppe Opera Association—gave a preview of their operas.
Over the course of the festival, these troupes will stage traditional performances depicting stories such as the Hagiography of Lord Buddha, Choegyal Norsang, Choegyal Drimey Kunden, Pema Woebar, Sukyi Nyima, Nangsa Woebum, Mila Repa, Gyalsa Belsa, Ja Dringon Dawa, Chungpo Dhonyo Dhondup, and Drowa Sangmo.
The festival was inaugurated in the presence of chief guest Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, along with officiating Sikyong Tharlam Dolma Changra, Kalon of the Department of Education; Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang; Justice Commissioners Dawa Phunkyi and Phagpa Tsering; Election Commissioner Lobsang Yeshi; Public Service Commissioner Karma Yeshi; and Auditor General Tashi Topgyal. Also present were standing committee members of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, along with senior officials and secretaries from the Central Tibetan Administration.
The audience also included local Indian officials, representatives from Tibetan civil society, former TIPA students and staff, Tibetan residents of Dharamshala, and attendees of the long-life prayer ceremony held earlier this morning at Tsuglagkhang. The event also drew the attention of tourists and locals, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Although Lhamo (Tibetan opera) was first introduced by Thangtong Gyalpo in the 14th century and widely performed across Tibet for centuries, its continuity was threatened following the political upheavals in Tibet. In response, His Holiness the Dalai Lama established TIPA in 1959 during the early years of exile. This became a crucial step in reviving and preserving the rich Lhamo tradition. Building on this foundation, the grand Tibetan Shoton Festival (Yoghurt Festival) was initiated in exile starting in 1993, continuing the legacy of this cherished cultural celebration.
Shoton, or the Yogurt Festival, marks a traditional feast offering yogurt to monks during their summer retreat at monasteries like Sera and Drepung. In ancient India, monks were required to stay in the monastery for three months during summer, and the community would provide them with yogurt and milk feasts. In Tibet, at Sera and Drepung, monks were offered ceremonial yogurt on the thirtieth day of the sixth Tibetan month, followed by debates on Buddhist texts.
From the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama, Shoton featured performances by Tibetan opera troupes, such as Tashi Sholpa and Shelrong Drongtse, celebrating the unveiling of Drepung’s giant thangka. In 1849, when the Eleventh Dalai Lama, Khedrup Gyatso, was eleven, he began residing at Norbulingka during the summer, where opera troupes performed during Shoton at the Kalsang Phodrang.
