Tibetan and Sherpa costumes at Lhosar celebration

Yesterday it was Lhosar - Tibetan and Sherpa New Year. It is one of the most important festivals for Tibetan Buddhists and at this day people try to visit one of the sacred sites. They usually dress up for the occasion and dressing up in this case means wearing traditional costume. Some like classic variant, while others prefer more modern versions. I am not a Tibetan Buddhist but I like to go to the places of celebrations at this day too, just to enjoy the festive atmosphere, to watch people, to admire all those colourful costumes.

This is a classic variant of Tibetan costume: a long-sleeved loose coat worn by both men and women called chhuba. The chhuba was originally made to serve three purposes - as day clothing, night clothing and as baggage carrier. It is slightly longer than the wearer with sleeves also longer than the arms. During the day it is shortened at the belt to hang around the knees for men and the ankles for women. Thus the upper part of a pulled up chuba turns into a huge pocket for carrying things. When it is hot one pulls arm from the right sleeve. If it is even hotter, one slips both arms out of the sleeves and ties them around the waist which leaves the upper part of the body bare. Under the chhuba a jacket or shirt with a stiff high collar is worn.

As well as sleeved women also wear sleeveless chhubas. Over it married women wear striped aprons. The corners of aprons are often decorated with brocade patches. 

Kids wearing traditional clothes look especially cute.

 Take a note how elegantly the tied sleeves look at the back, you could think it is a sash

Two sisters wearing identical dress. Lucky catch and you can see the costume.s front and back on one photo 

I wonder whether these are real sleeves or just imitation. Perhaps it is modern interpretation

Traditional and modern together

Dzi beads, coral and turquoise necklaces are one of the most favourable jewelry pieces among the Tibeto-Nepalese

The eastern Sherpa women wear hats decorated with coins and chains. This woman also has a badge with an image of Buddha on her hat.

Many men wear a single earring that may be just a turquoise stone tied with a string to the pierced earlobe. A wide-spred belief circulates among Tibetans that a turquoise worn in the ear prevents reincarnation as a donkey.

I wrote about traditional Tibetan costume and jewelry before, so didn't want to repeat myself. If you are interested to read more and see more photos visit these pages

Traditional costume of Tibet

Ethnic dress of the Tibetans

Ethnic jewelry of the Tibeto-Nepalese

Tibetan jewelry: a bit of history