Ancient rituals in Tibet launch plowing season

Dressed in their newest and best, Tibetan farmers from many villages the Tibet autonomous region participated in ancient spring plowing rituals on Tuesday to mark the start of this year's plowing season.

Villagers gathered in the fields in the brisk air after sunrise for religious prayers, songs and traditional dances to express hope for a year of good harvests.

Unlike the farming practices of the past in which people mainly used yaks and horses to pull the plows, many now uses cultivating machines. The yaks were still present in a way, as cultivators in some villages dressed up like the animals to commemorate their important traditional role.

Farmers also sent greetings to each other by presenting hada — a white scarf representing purity and honesty — and sharing big bowls of barley wine. The fields were filled with laughter and cheers.