Tibetan New Year in Xigaze, Tibet.

The Tibetan New Year is 12th, Jan at Xigaze in 2013. The much anticipated Tibetan New Year is still one month away, but people in Xigaze, celebrating the New Year one month in advance. 

The improving living standards in the region are making the special event all the more merrier, let’s join the locals to see how they are welcoming in the new year.

The setting sun marks the last day of the year for the villagers here in Xigaze. A family of 3 generations is preparing to welcome the New Year.

The young men here are frying sheep heads for the feast. Their spacious house was built in 2007 and offers plenty of room for the entire household.

A classic tradition for the New Year is to eat dough balls, which have various hidden ingredients that serve as a light-hearted comment on one's character or a prediction of the coming year.

Villager said, "If you find meat in your dough ball it means you are really connected to your family. If it’s wheat, then it’s good fortune. If its black beans, then it means you live with great frugality."

At ten in the night, the mother starts dispensing the dough ball, starting with the elders first, soon after, people started joking around about who got what in their dough balls.

Afterwards, one of the adults wielded burning highland barleys to drive out evil spirits and to pave the way for fireworks which officially welcomes in the New Year.

More details of trip to Tibet, please press HERE.