China Focus: Tibetans embrace "Fire Monkey Losar" with gratitude, expectation

Sonam Rinchen woke up in the early morning, only to find his mother standing at the bedside, smiling at him. Just as he was about to open his mouth, his mother blinked her eyes.

The 7-year-old boy from Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province soon realized it was the first day of the Tibetan New Year, and his first words of the day must be auspicious.

"Roseran (Happy New Year)," Sonam Rinchen said.

"Roseran and Tashi Delek (Good Luck)," his mother replied.

Tuesday marked the first day of the "Fire Monkey Losar" on the Tibetan calendar. The Tibetan New Year is normally celebrated by religious rituals, long prayers, horse races, family gatherings and feasts. The celebration lasts for two weeks.

Dekyi Drolkar got up just as the day broke and freshened herself up before going to Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region.

The 29-year-old entrepreneur decided to give herself a break and accompany her mother to join the long queue moving slowly into the temple to worship the statue of Shakyamuni.

"I wish for a prosperous and healthy year for my family," she said while offering ghee and "hada," a strip of raw silk and linen, to Buddha.

Among the prayers were also many Han people and tourists. Yang Wancai, who came to Qinghai from his hometown in northern Hebei Province more than half a century ago and now a 71-year-old retiree, came to Taer Lamasery in Huangzhong County on the day.

"I have deep feelings toward Tibetans. I wish a peaceful and joyous year for all of us," Yang said.

Losar is a time for family reunions. Families will feast on Tibetan food. Women make Kharbse, a popular dish made from flour and yak butter, and guthuk, a traditional snack similar to a dumpling.

Wangdu, a skilled Tibetan dessert cook, became the most popular guest in Gyirong County. The 59-year-old man have kept visiting households making pagoda-like desserts from morning to night for days.

Most houses in the county were damaged during a devastating earthquake in April. "Post-quake reconstruction began immediately and all villagers are never worried about making a living and observing the New Year as usual," said Tashi, the village head.

Traditional Tibetan food is not just cherished in remote areas. Tsering Yongyi runs a stylish Tibetan food restaurant in Xining, capital of Qinghai Province.

"More people are interested in our food, as tables during the new year festival holiday have all been booked out days before, which really surprised me," the young lady said, adding over 50 percent of the customers are Han people and sometimes foreigners.

Tibetans also took to smartphones and mobile apps to report on their New Year celebrations. Sonam Tseji, a Tibetan girl who works in Beijing, posted her family photo taken on the New Year's day on WeChat.

"Every time I was home for Losar, I found my parents older than before. My best hope in the coming year is for them to be happy and healthy," Sonam Tseji wrote along with the photo. Endi