25/12/2025
New Year Comes to Southern Xizang: Pulan New Year in Ngari Prefecture
The first day of the eleventh month in the Tibetan calendar marks New Year’s Day in Pulan County. Known locally as Pulan New Year, or Farmers’ New Year, the festival is deeply rooted in agricultural tradition, embodying the local people’s reverence for nature and their hopes for a bountiful harvest.
Located in Ngari Prefecture, Xizang Autonomous Region, Pulan County lies at an average elevation of 3900 meters. Yet, while much of Ngari is blanketed in snow during winter, the Pulan River valley, due to its comparatively low elevation, enjoys a milder climate that creates a rare winter oasis.
Kejia Village is one of the central locations for the Pulan New Year celebrations. It’s the repository of two local items of cultural heritage - the traditional Pulan dress, also called the "Peacock Costume", and the “Drinking Peacock” dance.
What makes Pulan New Year truly unique is its blend of deep tradition and everyday warmth. The smiles of the children receiving gifts, the joy of family reunions and the quiet pride of those preserving the local cultural heritage, together create a living cultural pulse on this ancient land.
