I went over to my favourite place on earth and celebrated T'tan New Year there with my friends. Had an absolutely fabulous time, despite being followed by police, watched by the army and repeatedly told to be out of town by the 31st as the area was being closed to foreigners on that date.
Local night club. Friend's daughter is one of the singers.
Another performer
The musos. The instrument in the front right is a 'dram niang', traditional T'tan guitar.
Fresh food doesn't come to town very often, so it's buy up big time when the trucks do come.
The traditional belt-maker. These belts are worn by the women and are often passed down in families.
Winter stockpile - keeping the stove going is one of the most important activities.
The day before New Year's Eve, the monks hold the Gedor festival to cleanse the past year and make the next year better. The festival is based around dancing and burning away teh bad stuff.
Monastery in the afternoon light.
Gloriously elaborate costumes
Prayer
Fire to cleanse the old year
The monk police, keeping everyone away from the dancing arena. And they WILL hit people with the staff.
Horn players
Long horns and big drums.
Energetic dancing - yak and deer masks.
A more stately dance in amazing costumes.
Scary masks
A death dance
Death comes in a pair
See Ma, I can fly!!
A small part of the 3000 strong audience. They came from 70-80kms away by truck, motorbike, minivan, 3-wheel farm trailer-bikes etc.
My favourite place on earth
Winter morning
I stayed with one of my friends in his village for New Year. Here his wife, daughter and sister-in-law are preparing momos - T'tan dumplings.
Setting up the room for the New Year. We did this around 11:30pm on New Year's Eve. The rugs are where people sleep - it doubles as seating during the day.
Offerings to the gods. Barley flour, yak butter, yak cheese and sugar.
On New Year's Day, we got up at 4:30am, the women went to get water and when we came back, we had breakfast of tsampa and then dressed in new clothes to celebrate.
After the fellas came home from looking after the sheep and yaks all night we started eating and drinking and that continued all day! We did the 'rellie circuit' and other rellies visited us.
Next day I went to another friend's village and did his rellie circuit as well.
My friend's brothers, plus other nieces and nephews in new sarra (chupa) made by my mate's mother.
Another visit - oh those cheekbones!
Village basketball
More rellies. The young fella in red is a local movie star. (And Grand-dad got in a quick couple of pats on the derriere as well!
)
Yak on ice.
It was a fabulous time, and I was so grateful to be asked to share this time with my friends and their families.