Nestled in the heart of Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city, the Shigatse
Dzong street market—often called the Shigatse Bazaar—unfolds along the base of
the recently reconstructed Shigatse Dzong fortress.
This vibrant marketplace is more than a commercial hub; it’s a living tapestry
of Tibetan daily life and tradition. Vendors line the streets with stalls
brimming with local produce, including yak cheese, tsampa (roasted barley
flour), and butter tea, offering visitors a sensory immersion into Tibetan
culinary heritage. The air is rich with the scent of incense and the hum of
bargaining voices, as locals and travelers mingle in search of both
necessities and treasures.
The bazaar is renowned for its array of traditional handicrafts, making it a
magnet for those seeking authentic Tibetan souvenirs. Artisans display
intricately woven carpets from Gyantse, silver-inlaid Tibetan knives from
Lhatse, and hand-painted thangkas that depict Buddhist deities and mandalas.
Jewelry stalls gleam with turquoise and coral, while woolen garments and
prayer flags flutter in the breeze. These items are not merely decorative—they
carry the weight of cultural symbolism and centuries-old craftsmanship.
Bargaining is customary, and many vendors are open to friendly negotiation,
adding a personal touch to each transaction.
Beyond its commercial appeal, the Shigatse Bazaar serves as a cultural
crossroads. It’s a place where tradition meets modernity, where monks from
nearby monasteries might browse alongside tourists, and where the rhythms of
Tibetan life unfold in real time. The market’s proximity to the Dzong fortress
and the Tashilhunpo Monastery enhances its spiritual ambiance, making it a
meaningful stop for those interested in both material and metaphysical
exploration. Whether one is seeking a handcrafted relic or simply absorbing
the atmosphere, the Shigatse Bazaar offers a vivid glimpse into the soul of
Tibetan culture.
|
Shigatse Bazaar is located next to Shigatse Dzong fortress
Perched atop a commanding hill overlooking the confluence of the
Yarlung Tsangpo and Nyang Chu rivers, the Shigatse Dzong fortress
stands as a sentinel of Tibet’s historical and spiritual legacy.
-
Originally constructed in the early 17th century by Karma Phuntsok
Namgyal, ruler of the Tsang region, the Dzong served as both a
military stronghold and an administrative center. Its architecture was
modeled after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, with turreted walls and a
central red palace, symbolizing both temporal authority and sacred
protection. The fortress once housed the governor of Tsang and played
a pivotal role in the political shifts of the era, including the rise
of the Fifth Dalai Lama under Mongol patronage.
-
Though the original structure was destroyed in 1961 following the
Tibetan uprising, the Dzong was reconstructed in 2007, albeit
on a smaller scale. Today, it functions as a cultural landmark and
museum, offering panoramic views of Shigatse city and the nearby
Tashilhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama. The rebuilt
Dzong retains its symbolic stature, with its whitewashed walls and
golden rooftop glinting in the high-altitude sun. Pilgrims and
visitors often include it in the kora—a ritual circumambulation
that links sacred sites across the city, weaving together devotion,
memory, and landscape.
-
The Dzong’s presence in Shigatse Bazaar is more than visual—it shapes
the rhythm of the city. Its silhouette anchors the skyline, while its
historical resonance infuses the marketplace below with a sense of
continuity and reverence. Artisans sell miniature replicas, thangka
paintings depicting the Dzong, and even local tales that echo its past
glories and tragedies. In this way, Shigatse Dzong is not merely a
fortress—it is a living emblem of Tibetan resilience, a place where
stone and story converge to honor the enduring spirit of Tsang.
|
|
Streets covered with awnings of Shigatse Bazaar
|
|
Stall selling gedis (waist ornaments) to attach the pangden
(aprons)
In Tibetan culture, the gedi—a waist ornament used to
fasten the pangden (striped apron)—is both a functional accessory
and a symbol of status, beauty, and tradition.
-
Typically worn by married women, the pangden is secured at the
waist with these ornate fasteners, which range from simple utilitarian
clasps to elaborate silver or copper pieces adorned with turquoise,
coral, and intricate filigree. The gedi not only holds the
apron in place but also serves as a decorative focal point, often
reflecting regional styles and the wearer’s social standing. In
ceremonial contexts, especially during festivals, the gedi may
be paired with additional embellishments like silk ribbons or golden
threads known as trodhen, enhancing both the aesthetic and
symbolic value of the ensemble.
-
At the Shigatse Bazaar, these waist ornaments are sold alongside a
rich array of traditional Tibetan handicrafts. Artisans from
surrounding regions bring their wares to this bustling market,
offering gedis crafted with remarkable attention to detail.
Shigatse’s proximity to Lhatse and Gyantse—renowned for their
metalwork and weaving—means that many of the gedis found here
feature high-quality silverwork, often engraved with auspicious
symbols such as lotus flowers, snow lions, or the eight auspicious
signs (Ashtamangala). Some are inlaid with semi-precious stones
like Tibetan turquoise or red coral, prized not only for their beauty
but also for their protective and spiritual properties. These
ornaments are typically handmade, preserving techniques passed down
through generations, and each piece carries a unique blend of artistry
and cultural resonance.
-
For visitors to Shigatse, purchasing a gedi at the Bazaar
offers more than a souvenir—it’s an invitation into the layered
symbolism of Tibetan dress. The act of choosing a waist ornament
becomes a tactile engagement with Tibetan identity, where
craftsmanship, ritual, and daily life converge. Whether one selects a
modest clasp or a richly adorned piece, the gedi embodies the
enduring elegance of Tibetan women’s attire and the cultural vitality
of the Tsang region. In this way, the Shigatse Bazaar is not merely a
marketplace but a living archive of Tibetan heritage, where even the
smallest ornament tells a story of belonging, beauty, and tradition.
|
|
Stall selling necklaces and earrings
|
|
Traditional Tibetan necklaces
|
|
Stall selling cups, dice, dominoes and small white shells
|
|
Stall selling limestone or chalk
Limestone or
chalk, locally quarried and used for both practical and symbolic
purposes.
-
In Tibetan contexts, such stones are often ground into powder for
whitewashing walls, especially of monasteries and stupas, where
the act of renewal carries ritual significance. The annual repainting
of sacred architecture is not merely aesthetic—it’s a gesture of
purification and reverence, aligning with Tibetan cosmological cycles
and the maintenance of sacred space.
-
These stones may also serve devotional or ritual functions.
Powdered limestone is sometimes used to mark sacred boundaries,
inscribe mantras on stones (mani) or prayer walls, or prepare
surfaces for thangka painting. In some regions, white stone fragments
are placed at household altars or used in offerings, symbolizing
clarity, purity, and the mountain realm. Their presence in the market
reflects both their ubiquity and their layered meanings—practical,
spiritual, and aesthetic.
-
While not as precious as turquoise or coral, these humble stones are
deeply woven into Tibetan material culture. Their sale in open-air
markets like Shigatse Bazaar speaks to a rhythm of life where the
sacred and the everyday are not separate domains. Whether destined for
construction, ritual, or art, each fragment carries a quiet
resonance—an echo of the mountains, the monasteries, and the enduring
Tibetan ethos of transformation through elemental means.
|
|
Stall selling pieces of lamb
|
|
Dranyen lute with three double ropes and snakeskin
The
Dranyen, also known as sgra-snyan in Tibetan, is a
long-necked, fretless lute that resonates with the soul of Himalayan
musical tradition.
-
Its elongated body, often carved from a single piece of wood, is
covered with taut animal skin—goat, sheep, or snake—serving as a
natural soundboard that gives the instrument its bright, percussive
tone. Typically strung with six or seven strings arranged in double
courses, the Dranyen is played by plucking or strumming, often with a
plectrum made of wood or bone. Its design is both functional and
symbolic: the absence of frets allows for fluid melodic movement,
while the carved pegbox—sometimes shaped like a sea monster or
dragon—evokes protective and mythic motifs rooted in Tibetan
cosmology.
-
In Shigatse Bazaar, the Dranyen is more than a musical instrument—it’s
a cultural artifact. Local artisans, often from nearby villages or
monastic communities, craft these instruments by hand, preserving
traditional methods while occasionally incorporating modern materials
like nylon strings or decorative inlays. The Dranyens sold here range
from simple, utilitarian models used in daily folk music to
elaborately painted versions intended for ceremonial use or as
collector’s items. Some feature rosette-shaped sound holes and tassels
hanging from the pegbox, enhancing their visual and symbolic appeal.
Buyers—whether musicians, pilgrims, or tourists—are drawn not only to
the instrument’s sound but to its embodiment of Tibetan identity and
spiritual resonance.
-
The Dranyen’s role in Tibetan life is multifaceted. It accompanies
folk songs, dances, and epic storytelling, often serving as a rhythmic
anchor in communal gatherings. In certain religious contexts,
especially within Drukpa Buddhist rituals, it is used to mark time or
invoke specific energies, its sound believed to harmonize the space
and support meditative focus. Owning a Dranyen from Shigatse Bazaar is
akin to holding a thread of Himalayan heritage—an invitation to
participate in a living tradition where music, myth, and devotion
converge. Whether played in solitude or celebration, the Dranyen
remains a voice of the mountains, echoing stories that transcend time.
|
See Also
Source
Location
