On the morning of the Tibetan New Year, which fell on March 2 this year, people usually put on their new clothes and greet each other with a cry of "Lorsa, Zahid Le!" ("Happy New Year!")
Laughter and songs filled a recreational room in an apartment building in Tama Village in the suburb of Lhasa, capital city of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Residents brought snacks, barley wine and chema to the room to share with each other. They chatted, sang and danced together.
Chema is separated into two halves, one side is filled with roasted barley grains and the other side has roasted barley flour, into which dyed barley ears are then planted. Chema symbolizes a good harvest in the next year. Tibetan people bring chema while visiting relatives and friends on the New Year Day.
 |
CARE-FREE CHILDREN: Children play in their community in Tama Village in the suburb of Lhasa on March 2 (WANG HAIRONG) |
 |
PAYING A VISIT: A resident carries chema, which symbolizes a good harvest in the coming year, while paying someone a visit in Tama Village on March 2 (WANG HAIRONG) |
 |
DANCE PARTY: Residents dance at a recreational room in their community in Tama Village on March 2 (WANG HAIRONG) |
 |
NEW BUILDING: One of the new buildings in Tama Village (WANG HAIRONG) |
(Reporting from Lhasa, Tibet) |