Tibetans draw water to pray for harvest

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-27-2009 10:03

After the Tibetan New Year, many residents in the city of Shigatse have carried out the custom of holding a special water-drawing ceremony, praying for a great harvest next year.

Locals held a big ceremony in the traditional way. They  lined up to scatter " Tsampa" - the roasted barley  flour - in the sky, and chant words meaning safety, good  health and happiness.

This is an ancient well in Shigatse. Those who live nearby all come here to fetch water before dawn on the first day of the Tibetan lunar calendar.

Shigatse resident said, "We used to drink the water from this well, but now we have tap water. But we still come here to get water on the first day of the New Year. It's our custom. We do this every year."

According to tradition, the first bucket of water obtained in the new year is the purest, and whoever fetches it will be blessed with good luck all year round.

Locals held a big ceremony in the traditional way. They lined up to scatter " Tsampa" - the roasted barley flour - in the sky, and chant words meaning safety, good health and happiness.