Photo shows the new prayer flags hung around mountain in Taktse Village, 40 kilometers from downtown Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Photo/China News Service]

As one of the annual traditions of celebrating the Tibetan New Year (Losar), new prayer flags have been exchanged for the old ones that faded in the past year, in order to pray for good harvest, good luck and happiness.

In Taktse Village, 40 kilometers from downtown Lhasa, local villagers chose the third day of the New Year as the auspicious day to replace their prayer flags. They also hung prayer flags on the mountains, burnt aromatic plants and threw zanba (roasted highland barley flour) to pray for good luck.

The prayer flags are made of multi-colored patches of cloth, which are sewn in the order of blue, white, red, green and yellow. The sequence of colors cannot be changed since they symbolize in order the blue sky, white clouds, red fire, green water and yellow earth, and carry the good wishes of people through each of these elements.

The day to replace prayer flags is usually chosen as an auspicious day after the first day of the Tibetan New Year. Every member of the family will dress in their best clothes and carry festive dishes and offerings onto the roof, where they will hold a prayer ceremony while they change the prayer flag trees of the house. Later the family will enjoy a feast together and express their blessings to each other.

　　
Photo shows the local residents throwing zanba (roasted highland barley flour) at the prayer flag changing ceremony in Taktse Village, 40 kilometers from downtown Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Photo/China News Service]

Photo shows the local resident burning aromatic plants at the prayer flag changing ceremony in Taktse Village, 40 kilometers from downtown Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Photo/China News Service]

Photo shows the prayer flag changing ceremony in Taktse Village, 40 kilometers from downtown Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Photo/China News Service]