❄️ Lhasa, Xizang – With Tibetan New Year kicking off this Wednesday (Feb 18), the ancient Barkhor market is transforming into a kaleidoscope of tradition and joy! Locals and visitors alike are braving the winter chill to stock up on symbolic treats like kasai pastries – crispy golden dough twists that locals say 'sweeten the path to good fortune.'
🏮 The cobblestone alleys are bursting with chema boxes (Tibetan ritual trays), intricate butter sculptures, and sheep's head decorations believed to bring prosperity. 'My grandma taught me to choose kasai with eight twists – it represents balance,' shared 24-year-old Tenzin Yangchen, holding up a pastry like edible artwork.
📸 Travel bloggers are flooding social media with snaps of the vibrant chaos: crimson-robed monks debating melon prices, kids giggling over candy-stuffed dough balls, and elders bartering for rainbow-colored prayer flags. Pro tip for foodies: Try dresil, a sweet rice dish that's this year's breakout festival snack!
