The Johkang Temple has attracted the most people since Friday night, when the Moinlam Qenmo (Great Prayer) was held there.

Dressed in brand-new Tibetan clothes and holding butter lamps, the worshipers moved in a long line slowly through each hall of the Johkang Temple, paying homage to the Buddha, and praying for blessings for their relatives, friends and themselves.

The Potala Palace was also crowded with local worshipers, as well as a great number of visitors from other parts of China.

Paying homage to the Buddha is the most significant religious activity for the Tibetan Buddhists on the first day of the Tibetan Lunar New Year.

In addition, many local Han people, China's biggest ethnic group, also went out to pay new year greetings to their friends.

There are currently about 40,000 Han people living in Lhasa, and they are on very good terms with local Tibetans.

Purpu, a local Tibetan businessman warmly welcomed his Han customers with barley wine and beef, and sang a song in Chinese.

Some Tibetans have even married Han people in Lhasa.

Degyi, a young Tibetan teacher, proposed a toast to her husband of the Han nationality, saying "You've given me the most precious love in the world, and I'll never regret marrying you."

The Tibetan new year is also highly cherished in other parts of China.

In Beijing's Tibetan High School, colorful programs were performed by the Tibetan students.

"The Tibetan new year is celebrated in Beijing as warmly as in Tibet, which makes me feel at home," a Tibetan girl said.

The Tibetan students also performed a dance titled "Dream of the Olympics", expressing their hope that Beijing will succeed in hosting the games.

In Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, several officials from the Nanjing Political Consultative Conference and Nanjing Religious Affairs Bureau visited Cering Como and eight other Tibetans who have long worked in the city.

(Xinhua 02/25/2001)