Feasts and family gatherings, firecrackers and rituals to dispel ghosts, prayers for health and harvest - this is how Tibetans across China kick off their celebrations for Losar, the Tibetan New Year during recent weeks.

The start of the Year of the Water Dragon, which falls on Wednesday, is a festival for China's 5 million Tibetans, and celebrations will last to the 15th day of the first Tibetan month.

The festival, which falls on the 29th day of the last Tibetan month, features family reunions and torch and firework lightings, and, in many ways, it is similar to Chinese New Year's Eve.

In the coming two weeks of celebrations, Tibetans will also exchange New Year's greetings, worship gods and race horses.

A Tibetan grandpa is showing his hand-made auspicious butter sculpture for Losar[Photo/Chinanews]

Karma Dargye and her daughter Chokhor Drolma take photos in front of the festal "Chemar" displayed in Potala Palace square on Feb.22[Photo/Chinanews]

Tibetan children show their happiness.[Photo/Tibet.cn]

Winner of 2011 Tibet Travel Ambassador shows her confidence.[Photo/Tibet.cn]

The female Tibetan farmer looks happily after a good harvest.[Photo/Tibet.cn]

Blind children receive qualified education and care with the help of local government and kind-hearted people.[Photo/Tibet.cn]