STRANGE RITES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22740, 28 May 1937, Page 8

STRANGE RITES

TIBETAN NEW YEAR SUPERSTITIONS OF NATIVES CEREMONIES AT LHASA The British Mission to Tibet has re. turned to India from Lhasa with a picturesque account of the Tibetan Xew Year ceremonies. The Tibetans believe that before one. can usher in an auspicious New Year all tlio evil influences that have accumulated during the old one must bed riven out. A devil dance is accordingly held in the great Kastern Court of the Palace at Lhasa on the 29th day of the last month of the year and all officials are present. The ceremony witnessed by the British Mission included a dance lasting over two hours to the strains of a band of lamas playing cymbols, drums and trumpets Hishang, the Chinese priest-god of happiness, attended by servants wearing death's head masks, presided over the dances, seated on a throne. First dancers in demon masks pirouetted with arms outstretched, then in hurried performers •Totesquelv masked and crowned with skulls. Next four dancers representing skeletons scattered ashes from their fingers before capering round. There was an awed hush as a tall magician in ropes embroidered with skulls and with an apron of bones wove spells with a skull and the representation of a thunderbolt. Lamas marched in in procession and amid eerie music the magician brandished skulls. A with a picture of all the devils was burnt on it and finally came a procession of soldiers in ancient armour and plumed helmets and of lamas with censers. Amid a tusilade of 1 shots the devils were routed.