HORSE RACES WITHOUT RIDERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1923, Page 1

HORSE RACES WITHOUT RIDERS.

LHASA Tibet . Feb. 1- j 'Tbe Moiilam, or New Year Festival, j nsnallv begins in 'Tibet some time in j l-'ebnmry according to our calendar. j With us this year February Id is New Year's Day. when, beginning at j a i cry ea i-|y boil i, all Government | oilieials stationed here in Idia-a vi.-il j i In- Pot ala Palace, in order to pay j their respects to hi- Holiness the Dalai j I.a nia. This they do by presenting! sill; siarves. receiving in return thej Dalai Pallia's ble-silig. At the conclusion of this i en-muiiv , all the higher officials, headed by the j (Maud l.ama. proceed to the rout ol j , I b,s j-a. la, -1 -. where a religious service is; held, and prayers are oil.-led for the j t tit iiiiic.l h--allh and pro-peritv of hi- Holiness. After this, refreshments are served to the assembled oilieials. I iu-se consist of the inevitable Iml (ere I tea and bowls of rice mixed with a kind oi j sweet potato. Portions of this vice j at,, leapt by (lie recipients lot goad link during the coming year. In every house in Tibet preparations on as grand a scale a- eircuin-taliec-permit- are made tor tbe feasting which now begins, and in the m-c oi the wealthier people lasts during the whole of the ensuing month. On the second day of the New ’teat' a curious ceremony takes place. A rope oi twisted gra-s is stretehed from the tool' oi the palace lo a 'lone pillar situated at the loot of Potaaij Hill, a distance of about b‘> , > yard-. | Down this a man. brought in trom an j outside village, slides three time-. I pcriormi.ig trick- with a -ilk bnun.-rj the while. j In return for carrying out thi- left ( all taxi- are remitted and the Tibetan j (-.ivernniont make ea-!i presents. , Thi- ceremony is performed. the! Tibetans sav, to obviate any risk <•: ! rebellion in the country during the I ensuing year. All l.liasa turn- out to t view the" spectacle and indulge in pie- j nit s oli a grand -rale. Dancing and ; merry-making continue to a late -tour, j ()n the third day ol the te.-tival the l.ama- from the great monasteries of Brepung. Sera, and Gar, den—all near | Lhasa—come into the city, and the j religious festival for the welt are of j Tibet begins. _ | The J,tunas number over 1, and; to maintain order among them two j High Lamas are appointed tnagis- j trate- to supervise their behaviour. ; The civil authorities al-o hand over all i their powers to these two monk-offi- j eials, who retain complete control of i administration in Lhasa until the end J of the festival.

The l.Mli day of the Xevv Year is marked by ;he illumination ol all the larger houses and monasteries situated in Lhasa. Thousands of small buiter lamps are u-ed for lighting up these edifices, and everybody in Lhasa makes a tour of sightseeing, and the day ends with more feasting, dancing and games. For the succeeding days up to the end of the mouth, when she festival ends, horse-races, wrestling, running, and / iher sport- are organised. In the horse-races the animals arc never ridden--they are driven hv men mounted-oil other animal', who show great 'kill in keeping the driven ponies ( on the course. The competition among the owners ! or" tii" ponies is very keen, as it is belicved that the pony which conies in j first will siirclv bring good luck to it' j uvv nrr. Tbe Lamas v.bn are in Lhasa on the : JdrJ day join in a grand procession : runnel the Kerala Hill, carrying images j of tlm god'. This is a most intpres-1 sive sight, ihe procession numbering well over 20.uli;i people. 'The proeos-i )]! is closed by the State j Oracle of Xejung, who on this day gives his forecast of events during the coining year. The Lamas n turn to their monasteries after i his festival.

A competition for the best dressed ami best equipped party is held on the next day. the competitors being the high officials of the Government. Each of these appears with a party of mounted retainers, his womenfolk, ami female servants, and when the judging is finished all form a procession and inarch round the Kotala. Except for archery trials among the military officers the festival is now