Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, is very cold in winter and windy in spring, but in summer it is beautiful and charming: bright sunshine, little wind and flowing rivers. At that time, the Tibetans, who love the outdoors, camp out m the lingka (woods) along the Lhasa River. This activity is called "playing in the lingka" or the "lingka festival." According to tradition, the lingka festival starts from the Sa-kya Dawa festival, on the 15th day of the fourth month by the Tibetan calendar, reaches its climaxes at the Incense Festival, on the 15th day of the fifth month, and the Xodoin Festival, on the first day of the seventh month, and ends at the Bathing Festival, early in the eighth month.
The activities at the festival are varied and colorful, centered on worshipping the gods and recreation.
　　Every time the festival comes round, the Tibetans dress in their best clothes and rush to the lingka from Lhasa. The roads are crowded with automobiles, bicycles and horses carrying people, food and cooking facilities to the woods. Every family sets up a tent in the woods. Most of the tents are white, with simple decorations. People set up cooking facilities, chairs and tables, on which they place all kinds of food, dishes and beverages. They sing, dance, tell stories, play games and drink day and night. Sometimes, they watch films, artistic performance and Tibetan opera. Many take part in sports competitions. In recent years, these activities have become more and more colorful; color TVs, videorecoders, karaoke machines and electronic games have all moved into the tents.
　　The Sa-kya Dawa Festival celebrates the birth, becoming enlightened and death of Buddha, all of which events occurred in April. On that day, people get up very early, and walk around the inside, middle and outside walls of the Jokhang Monastery, reciting scriptures. Colorful prayer flags are flown, street peddlers sell all kinds of commodities, and storytellers attract large audiences.
Followers of the Red Sect of Buddhism from eastern Tibet attract people's attention with their sturdy bodies, unique costumes and huge trumpets. Buddhist nuns sit by the roadside in groups, chanting scriptures to the accompaniment of drums. All the scripture readers meet in the lingka of the Dragon King Lake north of the Potala Palace. They present hadas (ceremonial silk scarves) and buffer lamps to the dragon princess. They also paddle boats on the lake, singing the praises of the dragon princess.
　　The fifth month by the Tibetan calendar is the best season for lingka. On the 15th day, the residents of Lhasa dress in their best clothes and pray in the Jokhang Monastery and other monasteries. They also burn incense on high places, and scatter glutinous rice cakes, salt and highland barley wine as a prayer for peace and happiness.
　　The fourth day of the sixth month by the Tibetan calendar is the Chuba Ccxi Festival. This commemorates the day that the Buddha explained the Catursatya in India. To mark the day, the people of Lhasa present offerings of food to Buddha in suburban monasteries. The first day of the seventh month by the Tibetan calendar is the Xodoin, or yoghurt, Festival. This festival originated in Lhasa's Zhaibung Monastery. Every year, from this day until the 3oth day, the 7,700 monks of the monastery are not allowed to go outside, for fear that they may kill insects by treading on them. During this time, the benefactors of the monastery give them sour milk as a blessing. In the 18th century, the Norbu Lingka in the western suburbs of Lhasa became the summer holiday resort of the Dalai Lama, and the Xodoin Festival was moved there. On the 3Oth day of the sixth month, the "Zhaibung Xodoin" is held, when a large portrait of Buddha is hung from the top of a nearby mountain, and Tibetan opera, drum and yak dance troupes from all over Tibet perform in the zhaibung Monastery. The festival is called the "Norbu Lingka Xodoin." From the first day of the seventh month, when all people, including monks and nuns, can go to the Norbu Lingka Palace to watch Tibetan opera performances. Drinking alcohol, betting and talking loudly are forbidden, and everyone must wear Tibetan boots. The present Xodoin Festival also includes all kinds of artistic performances from other parts of China.
　　In early August, the weather starts to get cold. Tibetans watch the southeast part of the sky. When a star called "Riqi" appears the Bathing Festival starts.
　　It is said that the "Riqi" star is the embodiment of the god of medicine. If the light of the star shines on a mountain, the grass there will gain medicinal properties, and when it shines on water; the water will become medicinal water. In the seven nights the star shines, the residents of Lhasa all go to bath in the river. When tbe night comes, from the east to the west, in the lakes and rivers, there are people bathing. In the beautilul nightlight, people seem to be in a fairy land.
　　After the bathing festival, the leaves began to be yellow, and there are few people bathing in the river, the activities in the lingka are also disappearing, and the lingka festival of the year ends as well.