Kongpo Losar celebrations invite visitors to traditions Nyingchi, Xizang

When Lu Zhi'ang stepped into a family home in Madpa village of Nyingchi, Xizang autonomous region, she was welcomed by villagers dressed in traditional attire.

They presented her with a khata, a ceremonial scarf symbolizing welcome, and a chemar, a wooden box containing roasted barley and tsampa, as a New Year blessing.

Inside, guests gathered around snacks and drinks as the hostess sang and the family prepared a festive meal.

For Lu, a visitor from Chengdu, Sichuan province, it was her first taste of Kongpo Losar celebrations. "It was a wonderful experience. I could really feel the warmth and hospitality of the local villagers," she said.

Observed on the first day of the 10th month of the Tibetan calendar, which fell on Nov 10 this year, Kongpo Losar is regarded as the earliest Tibetan New Year in Xizang. It is celebrated mainly in Dragyib district, Manling county, and Kongpo'gyada county.

Traditional festivities include blessing rituals, the New Year's Eve custom of inviting dogs to feast, local cuisine and highland barley wine, archery, horse racing, and the gorshey circle dance.

This year's celebrations, running from Nov 8 to Nov 14 in Madpa village, are bringing these time-honored traditions together with new ways for visitors to experience local culture.

Local families are opening their homes to visitors for immersive cultural experiences, while a themed market showcases traditional crafts, such as thangka painting and wool-blanket making.

The program also features arts and crafts, traditional costume experiences, King Gesar epic storytelling, fashion shows, and live music, offering visitors a blend of heritage and contemporary cultural activities.