Introduction to Tibetan Shamanism (དྲུག་པའི་ཀླུ་རོལ།) Tibetan Shamanism, a folk religious practice with roots dating back over 1,400 years, is a unique and vibrant aspect of Tibetan culture. Known locally as Lurol (ཀླུ་རོལ་), which translates to "enjoying the Nagas" in English, it is celebrated annually from July 16th to 25th, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. This festival involves a variety of ritualistic practices, including worship of divinities, piercing of the skin (such as the cheeks and back), dancing, and playing the Naga's drum. One of the key elements of the Lurol festival is the participation of local youth, who often seek skin piercings from the oracle as a way to cleanse themselves of evil influences and obstacles for the coming year. The oracle, in a deep act of devotion, may also cut his forehead and offer his own blood to local deities, expressing profound faith and reverence. Tibetan Shamanism primarily serves as a means of alleviating ailments, misfortunes, and droughts while promoting happiness and well-being for all sentient beings. The Lurol festival can be divided into three main types of dance: God Dance, Naga Dance, and Militant Dance. These dances are performed in rotation among the villages of Repkong each year and are considered crucial to both Tibetan culture and religion. If you're interested in experiencing the Tibetan Shaman's festival, we can arrange a tailored tour to explore this unique cultural event in Amdo Tibet. Examples of Lurol Activities in Popular Villages Langgya Village Lurol Langgya Village is home to the sacred Mt. Amnye Lhari and Mt. Amnye Mogkar, both revered as local deities. The village's Lurol festival takes place from July 20th to 23rd, according to the agricultural calendar. The celebrations begin on the 20th with preparations such as displaying thangkas of the local deities on decorated poles and
Introduction to Tibetan Shamanism (དྲུག་པའི་ཀླུ་རོལ།) Tibetan Shamanism, a folk religious practice with roots dating back over 1,400 years, is a unique and vibrant aspect of Tibetan culture. Known locally as Lurol (ཀླུ་རོལ་), which translates to “enjoying the Nagas” in English, it is celebrated annually from