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Yogurt Festival to be held in Lhasa

By Chen Qide (China Daily Shanghai Bureau)
Updated: 2010-07-14 16:39

Tibet authorities announced that Lhasa will hold its yogurt festival on August 10.

The one-week event themed "harmonious Lhasa and merry yogurt festival", is said to be one of the grandest traditional festivals in the city.

"As an important festival to Lhasa, it features Tibetan culture and region by performing Tibetan operas and presenting Tibetan Buddhism," said Li Jing, deputy director of the Yogurt Festival Office.

The festival, which originated from the 11th century as a regional activity, was turned into a cultural and religion event in 1994, and is held once a year with art performances, sports competitions, tourism and business put together.

Li said a grand opening ceremony for the festival will be held at Potala Square. A series of cultural events will be presented to tourists from home and abroad, which include fireworks, Tibetan operas, horse racing and a beer-drinking contest.