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Show TIBETAN NEW YEAR'S DAY. Characteristic Ceremonies That Mkrk Its Cetebrat'-n. February 18 Is New Years day In Tibet, and for the, succr' ; three weeks I.asRa is tho see strange pioceodtnRS. Its gov pi pnsses from the lama to n mom ,1 tho Do-banc Do-banc monastery, who liujs ttio right oi rulu by auction. Ho Is called tho talno and, recclvinK tho homage of alt, oxerclbcs his authority by imposing heavy lines for Ills own profit. His men visit every homo in Lassa to collect col-lect heavy taxes and fines, so that all tho poorer people leave the city at tho Now Year. From tho con try round priests flock In for numerous icllclous ceremonies, which culminate In tho selection of n human srapegont for the stns of I sa Tho faco of tho victim Is painted half black nnd half whtto and after ho has been beaten by tho populace as a sjnibol of the transference to hhn of tho sins of tho people ho ts hooted and mobbed out of Lassa, whither ho may not return for a ear |
