Tibetan Family Honors New Year With Ancient Soup Tradition

When Chocho's family gathered in their Lhasa home on February 16th, they weren't just making soup. They were keeping alive a tradition that turns a simple meal into a celebration of luck, laughter, and togetherness.

The occasion was the Night of Gutu, which marks the 29th day of the 12th month on the Tibetan calendar. Chocho and his wife Tasang prepared gutu, a flour-based soup with a playful twist: nine different fillings hidden inside dough drops, each carrying its own meaning.

"Gu" means nine in Tibetan, considered a lucky number. "Tu" means pasta. The hidden fillings range from wool to charcoal to chili, and discovering which one lands in your bowl sparks joy and jokes around the table.

Chocho's grandson Losang Druta wore traditional Tibetan clothing with a ceremonial hat to join the celebration. Three generations shared the meal together, honoring a ritual that connects them to countless families celebrating across the region.

The preparations extended beyond the kitchen. Tasang arranged colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made from dyed wheat and barley ears, placing them in a two-tier wooden box called a "chema" filled with roasted barley and fried wheat grain. Chocho adorned doors and windows with fresh decorative fabrics, transforming their home into a welcoming space for the new year.

These rituals create more than festive atmosphere. They weave generations together through shared actions, familiar scents, and stories retold over steaming bowls.

Sunny's Take

There's something beautiful about traditions that turn ordinary ingredients into extraordinary moments. In a world that moves fast, the Night of Gutu reminds us that slowing down to cook together, laugh over surprise fillings, and decorate our homes creates the connections we crave most. It's not about perfection. It's about presence.

As families across Tibet welcomed their new year, they carried forward customs that have nourished both body and spirit for generations.