Xizang villages come alive with ancient spring plowing festivities

Dressed in their newest and best ethnic clothing, Tibetan farmers from different villages of the Xizang autonomous region participated in ancient spring plowing rituals on Saturday to mark the start of this year's plowing season.

According to the Tibetan calendar, Saturday was the seventh day of the second month of the year. The Tibetan calendar uses unique calculations based on the stars in the sky to determine the dates of important events, such as the New Year or when to plant new crops.

In the early morning, villagers headed to the fields in the brisk air for religious prayers, butter tea, barley wine, traditional songs and dances to express their hope for a good harvest in the new year.