The `Shoton' or the Yogurt Feast as it is known, is said to have its beginnings in the year 1416 at Drepung Monastery (one of the three big Gelugpa monastic establishments). The original purpose of this annual feast of yoghurt dishes was to celeberate the end of the summer retreat of the ordained monks.
It is by no means an accident that yogurt becomes the food of choice this time of year--for milk is plenty in supply and make up bulk of the offerings made to the monastery. While the monks relish yogurt, theatre groups would be invited to perform for entertainment of the monks and their quests. In time the popularity of these performances outgrew its original purpose and Shoton thus became syononymous with festival of Lhamo, the Tibetan opera.
In later years, Shoton had assumed the stature of a national event and had become a highly regulated affair with the Treasury Department of the Tibetan Government taking over as the main organizer and sponsor of the event. During the four-day official event shows would be staged by the four principle troupes comprising of Gyangkhara, Chungpa, Shangpa, and Kyormolungpa. This would be followed by another five days of performances in the gardens of the Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. By 1920's the proceedings have been open to twelve regional opera companies as well.
By the time of the Great Thirteenth Dalai Lama, at the turn of this century, Shoton had assumed a scale comparable to any such cultural event held elsewhere in the world these days. Drum beats would echo from very corner in the valley of Lhasa and this city is in no mood to work but watch Lhamo all day long. Written by Tashi Tsering in Dharamsala Edited by Sonam Dargyay in New Delhi (WTN News)
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S H O T O N' 9 6
The Festival of Tibetan Operas
P r e s e n t e d b y
The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, Dharamsala
March 25th to March 31st,
TIPA Grounds, Dharamsala
PROGRAMMES
25/3/96: Inauguration of Shoton'96 by His Holiness the Dalai
Lama. Offerings of Dances by the Visiting Opera troupes
26/5/96: `Chungpo Dhonyod & Dhondup' by Bylakuppe Opera Troupe Evening: `Dances from the Roof of the World' by Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts
27/3/96. `Nangsa Odbhum' by Mainpat Opera Troupe Evening: `A Concert by A-ka-ma Band" by TIPA
28/3/96. "Choegyal Norsang", an opera on the Choegyal lineage of Tibet, by Nepal Opera team Evening: A Cultural Show by TIPA 29/3/96: "Lhashung Pema Wobar" by Bandara Opera Troupe Evening: Dance Show by TIPA 30/3/96: `Dowa Sangmo' by Orissa Opera Troupe 31/3/96: `Sukyi Nyima' by TIPA
