Which deity is believed to visit households on Bituun in Tsagaan Sar tradition?

Palden Lhamo is the deity believed to visit households on Bituun in Tsagaan Sar tradition.

Bituun is the final day of the lunar year, associated with the dark or invisible moon. Families traditionally clean their homes, settle debts, light candles, and gather for a final meal before the New Year begins. One custom described in Mongolian Tsagaan Sar traditions is placing three pieces of ice at the doorway so Palden Lhamo’s horse can drink during her visit.

Palden Lhamo is a wrathful female protector in Tibetan Buddhism, known in Sanskrit as Shri Devi. She is especially associated with protecting the Gelug school, Tibet, and its religious leaders, and her veneration also extends into Mongolia. The belief is therefore connected to Buddhist protective traditions rather than to a generic lunar-new-year household spirit.

Mahakala is another major Buddhist protector and is sometimes associated with Palden Lhamo, while Tara is a revered Buddhist figure with different roles. Neither is the named Bituun visitor in this Tsagaan Sar account.