Tibetan ceremony celebrates New Year 'Losar'

The greatest festival in the Tibetan calendar is the Tibetan New Year, called Losar. For people living near Shigatse, in the southern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the festival has already entered its 3rd day. The people there are holding a ritual that is very special to the entire community.

Turning the prayer wheels as they leave the pilgrims set off at noon.

Dressed in brand new ethnic clothing, they take along highland barley wine and a special roasted flour for the trip. They also bring prayer flags with sacred writings and auspicious symbols written on them, known as sutra streamers.

The pilgrims circle a 4200 meter high mountain, a ritual performed every year for as long as they can remember. They eventually make their way up the mountain and replace the sutra streamers from last year with new ones. Put together, they form a spectacular tree of prayer flags.

A local resident said, "We are here to honour this holy mountain and pray for an abundance of food and water and the health of our livestock."

The pilgrims also chuck roasted flour to invite blessings in the new year.

After the ritual, they head to the mountain top to drink and make merry. They also dab the roasted flour on the shoulders of their companions hoping to bestow good fortunes on them. The entire event lasts until 5 in the afternoon and the pilgrims hope the blessings will be by their side for the whole year.