Lhasa: Tibetans on Saturday celebrated their annual bathing festival by taking a bath in the Lhasa river.
The particpants, both young and old, joined in the festivities despite the early autumn chill on the Tibetan plateau, Xinhua reported.
The bathing festival, known in Tibetan as "Karma Rigkyi", is a week-long holiday that falls in the seventh or eighth month of the Tibetan calendar.
The Tibetans traditionally believe the river water, which comes from the melting plateau snow, has healing effects and can wash away diseases.
Ancient literature on Tibetan herbal medicine also describes the water at this particular time as "sweet and good for the throat and stomach and with cleansing and healing effects".
Throughout the bathing week, rivers and streams across the plateau region are filled with people who swim and pray for good health.
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