Howard French reports on the ways in which traditional Tibetan cultural festivals have become a silent political battlefield between Tibetans and Chinese officials, with the main issue being whether or not to wear traditional fur coats:
This is the season of Tibetan festivals, where people throughout this region gather to celebrate old traditions during the long, hot days of summer, before the early onset of autumn and a harsh, prolonged winter.
The Khampa Festival in Qinghai Province is one of the largest on the calendar and traditionally draws Tibetans from all over western China. This year, for the first time, local officials tried to use the event to promote tourism and development in one of the poorest areas of China. As the muted response to the announcers suggested, however, the event had also acquired a political subtext: the continuing struggle between China and its Tibetan minority over cultural identity and religious freedom. [Full text]
See also a comment on this article from the Other End of China blog.
[Image: Tibetan riders raced in July at the Khampa summer festival in Gyegu, China, by Ariana Lindquist for The New York Times]
