New Year Festival of Luoba Ethnic Group

The Lhobas in all areas-except those scattered in Motuo and Milin, who have the Tibetan New year-celebrate the New Year Festival of their own.

The New Year Festival has no fixed date; but it takes place always after one year’s laboring, and the date is figured out according to the Lhoba calendar. 

In the second Tibetan month, the Lhoba people in the west part of the Lhoyu area celebrate the Xudulong Festival. That day is celebrated by dancing and praying for good harvest. The celebration is led by “Niubu” (a shaman, who dances and sings, waving a stick with a lot of colorful feathers in his hand. During the festival, every family takes out its wine and food and eats together with the others. The old, on these occasions, exchange songs about the ancient history of the tribe; the young, however, exchange songs about their love and admiration. The joyous songs and laughter around the glowing fire in the open air lasts long after the dusk falls. 

On the fifteenth day of the twelfth month, according to the Tibetan calendar, the Lhobas living in the east of the Lhoyu area celebrate the “Donggenggurumu” Festival. Before the New Year comes, they cut butchered swine and cattle into pieces and give them to their maternal relatives as gifts. This may well be ancient custom of sharing their harvest. After the beef is eaten, instead of being thrown away, the skull is put up on the way, as a symbol of diligence and wealth, which is passed down through generations.

The Lhobas in some areas like holding wedding ceremonies during the New Year Festival, because it adds more joys and happiness.