China Travel News

Like the 22-year-old Tibetan herdsman, Tashi arrived in Lhasa two days ahead of the New Year, which starts on Feb. 25, for the annual Lamaism service called Vajra Dance in Tsurpu Monastery.

"I came here on behalf of my whole family," Tashi said. He drove a motorcycle for two hours from the grasslands in Damxung, 70 kilometers away from Lhasa.
"My parents told me that I will have a lucky year if I watch the Vajra Dance at the beginning of a year," he said.

Like many others, Tashi consecrated hada, food and CNY300 of donation in front of the Buddha figures.

Before the Vajra Dance, all the lamas of the monastery chanted the sutra for seven days, praying for a favorable year for the people, said the 40-year-old Dradul, head of the monastery.

"From the young lamas to the 81-year-old experienced chanter, all of us have devoted to the chanting," he said.

Local residents around the monastery set fires to drive away evils and they also enjoyed fireworks in the sky.

On the New Year Eve, Tibetans have the tradition to watch a TV gala and eat a special food named Gutu, steamed stuffed bun.

In other Tibetan residential areas, people also can also find the festive atmosphere for the New Year.

A New Year party will be on on Wednesday in the county and a series of activities will be held from Wednesday to Friday in Deqen County.

The New Year is a special year for the quake-affected people, like herdsman Balo who had lost his house in the fatal quake and recently moved to new tents for the New Year festival in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Region, Sichuan Province.

Tibetans also gathered in Beijing, Shanghai and Hebei Province for New Year celebrations.