Festival hails fresh start for villagers in earthquake-hit Dingri

During the Losar holiday, or Tibetan New Year holiday, which was celebrated from Feb 27 to March 4, the people of Dingri county in the Xizang autonomous region found this festival was more meaningful than ever.

While the start of a new year is associated with festivities, fun and fortune, villagers in Shigatse's Dingri county, which was rocked by a 6.8-magnitude earthquake on Jan 7, could also look forward to embracing the warmth of new homes.

A project to reconstruct houses damaged in the powerful quake and its multiple aftershocks is scheduled to start in March and be completed swiftly by October, giving the community hope for making a fresh start before the end of the year.

Drolma Tsering, a resident of Drakchang village in Dingri's Dramso township, said she was thrilled to hear the news about the government's expedited reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, adding that she and her fellow villagers are eager to embrace a new life after moving into the new houses.

Drakchang was one of the 27 villages in Dingri severely affected by the quake. Wang Xinli, deputy head of the county's bureau of housing and urban-rural development, confirmed the reconstruction plan.

"Depending on the number of members, each family will get a house measuring 80 square meters to 260 sq m. Other basic infrastructure, such as schools for young children and health clinics, has also been planned," Wang said.

Around 5,000 villagers, who have been living in makeshift tents in Dingri's Tsogo township since the January quake, celebrated Losar New Year.

They had received daily necessities and festive packages from the authorities, and have rehearsed traditional songs and dances to usher in the new year.

"We've done our best to ensure that the people have enough food, water and electricity to stay warm and enjoy Tibetan New Year," said Ngakwang Tenzin, head of Tsogo township.

He said that special assistance is being provided to the elderly, children and others in need, and teachers have been arranged to support students preparing for the new semester.

"The first Losar New Year after the earthquake is of great importance to all of us, as it offers a chance to reset and marks a new mission and a fresh start," he added.