Tibetan Gangbung New Year is celebrated in northeast Tibet

Nyingchi celebrates New Year three months earlier. Local officials celebrated Tibetan Gangbung New Year together with the local people of Gong Zhong Village, Nyingchi Prefecture in northeast Tibet on Nov. 26 (October 1 on Tibetan calendar).

Gangbung New Year is an exciting festival for local villagers. They used to celebrate the holiday with their family members. But this year, leaders of Nyingchi Prefecture came to share the happy time with local villagers.

Each October 1 by Tibetan calendar is the frist day of the year in Nyingchi, Mailing, Gongbo Gyamda, etc. of Nyingchi Prefecture and the local people celebrate their new year on that day. It is said that in ancient times, Songtsan Gambo ordered the King of Gongbo to send soldiers to fight agaist alien enemies. The  King of Gongbo was so kind that he suggested those soldiers who completed their tasks to celebrate the new year ahead of time.  So later on, people in this area around Gongbo welcome the new year three months earlier than other places in Tibet.

To memorize brave soldiers, on October 1 by Tibetan calendar local people always stay awake and make offerings. As time goes by, more activities such as dancing, shooting and trade of goods are conducted.

There is something must in Tibetan New Year. Butter sculpture is one of the must in Tibetan New Year. According to Tibetan Buddhism traditions, Six Offerings need to be presented to the sculpture, including incense, paste incense, light, pure water, fruits and flowers. But as it was in winter and no flowers could be found. Smart Tibetans then made a bunch of flowers out of butter and presented to Buddha. From then on, butter sculptures have developed into different kinds and large scale with a history of over 1,300 years.