Shoton Festival (Yoghurt Festival), usually celebrated in the sixth month of Tibetan calendar, is one of the most important festivals in the Tibetan Buddhism and in Tibetan area. "Sho" means the Yoghurt and "ton" means banquet in the Tibetan language. Shoton Festival means the festival when people drink Yoghurt according to the explanation of Tibetan.

Performers dance during the opening ceremony of Shoton Festival on the square in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, August 20, 2009. [Xinhua]

A performer dances during the opening ceremony of Shoton Festival on the square in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, August 20, 2009. [Xinhua]

The Potala Palace is illuminated during the fireworks display to celebrate Shoton Festival in Lhasa, Tibet, August 20, 2009. [Xinhua]

Performers dance during the opening ceremony of Shoton Festival on the square in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, August 20, 2009.[Xinhua]

Performers prepare to dance during the opening ceremony of Shoton Festival on the square in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, August 20, 2009.[Xinhua]