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    Tibetan Bathing Festival

    Written by: Wei Liming
    Posted on: May 25, 2015 |

    Annual Tibetan Bathing Festival

    The Tibetan Bathing Festival is one of the traditional festivals of Tibet. Since it lasts seven days, it is also known as the ‘Bathing Week’.

    The seventh month of the Tibetan calendar is thought to be the best time for bathing in Tibet. It is the time when the rainy season has just ended and the sunshine becomes caressing. What is more, the water temperature near the riverbanks is over 20 degrees at the time.

    Tibetan Bathing Festival

    Therefore, when the sacred planet Venus appears for one week in the southern sky, all the people in Tibet go to the banks of the Lhasa River, the Yarlung Zangbo River and other rivers of the region for bathing. They go there by cart or horse, and take along buttered tea, wine and food as well. At the river bank, they set up tents or big umbrellas and then enjoy the whole day bathing.

    Usually, Tibetans start the day by washing their quilts, clothes and shoes in the river first. At noontime, when the river water warms up, they jump naked into the river for bathing. Male and female, young and old, all swim, play games and bathe together. In the afternoon, most people like having a party inside the tents or under the trees, where they drink, sing and dance until Venus reappears in the sky. Then they pack up and return to their homes.

    The Bathing Festival has a history of at least 700-800 years, and there is a legend behind it. It is said that a long time ago, there was an excellent doctor who was regarded as the “King of Medicine”. After he died, he became immortal.

    Tibetan Bathing Festival

    One year, there was a terrible plague in Tibet and it brought death to both human beings and domestic animals. The people had no other remedy for it but to pray to the immortal. And when he came to know of the situation, he turned himself into a sparkling star; all the vegetables became herbs and the water became medicinal water, with the star’s light going down on the mountains and rivers. It was at that night that all Tibetans had the same dream, in which they saw a bright star rising from the sky over the south east Lhasa city and a faint and sick girl bathing in the clean water of Lhasa River, and when she emerged from the river, the girl was clean, healthy and beautiful. All the people said that it was the immortal who did it. So they went to the river for a bath, and 7 days later, the plague went out and every one recovered after the new star disappeared from the sky. Since then, bathing in the rivers during this seven-day period became a custom, and later turned into a festival.

    Tibetan astronomical documents say that at the time between the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, the river is sweet, cool, soft, light and clean. Drinking it will do no harm to the throat or abdomen of human beings or domestic animals. Therefore, it is said that the Bathing Festival is the best for Tibetans.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021