Tibetan New Year in Shigatse is Coming, Have You Prepared These New Year Goods?

Shigatse’s Tibetan New Year in 2021 is from January 13th to 19th.

You may not have seen the following special New Year goods in Xigaze. Today, I’d liked to take stock of Shigatse’s special New Year products and see what you still lake in your home?

Chema Box

1. Chema Box (Five Cereals Harvest Bucket)

The refined bucket-shaped wooden box is separated by partitions, which are respectively filled with fried wheat grains and tsampa / Zanba, inserted with highland barley, red ear flowers and butter sculpture. It is placed in the home during the Tibetan New Year, symbolizing a good life and good luck.

The colorful highland barley ears enshrined on the Chema box.

"Zizha", enshrined on the butter sculpture in the Chema box.

Tajue

2. Tajue (Prayer flag tree)

"Tajue" means "a tree with prayer flags". The five colors of blue, white, red, green and yellow symbolize the sky, white clouds, fire, water and land respectively. According to traditional customs, during the Tibetan New Year, every household must replace the "tajue" on the roof, make new year wishes and pray for good luck in the new year.

Incense Cloth

 3. Incense Cloth

In addition to hanging prayer flags, it is also indispensable for every household to replace the curtains on windows, front doors and roofs. Tibetan compatriots call these curtains incense cloth.

Remove the old and replace it with the new one to show goodbye to the old and welcome the new.

Sheep Head

4. Sheep Head

The sheep head used for worship symbolizes the prosperity of animal husbandry. It is usually made of bone meal and painted with patterns, which is very realistic.

Kasai

5. Kasai (Various Fried Fruits)

"Kasai" is a kind of deep-fried noodles made with raw materials such as white noodles and butter. For Tibetan families in Shigatse, it is a necessity for entertaining guests and enshrining gods during the Tibetan calendar years.

Kasai has ear-shaped, butterfly-shaped, bar-shaped, square, round and other shapes. It is painted in various colors and coated with sugar. It is not only a decorative artwork, but also a treat for guests.

Dried Fruits

6. Others

Of course, during the Tibetan New Year in Shigatse, there are more than that new year goods. There are also various dairy products, dried fruits, silverware, wooden bowls from Gyirong, kamats from Gyantse, yak meat, mutton from Gangba and so on.