Lhosar Celebration in Nepal – 2023

Lhosar additionally known as Tibetan new year, is a pageant in Tibetan Buddhism. The vacation is widely known on diverse dates depending on area (Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, India) way of life.

The vacation is a new, celebrated on the first day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar, which corresponds to a date in February or March inside the Gregorian calendar. In 2023, the new year started out on the 24th of February and celebrations ran until the 26th of the identical month. It also commenced the year of the Male Iron Rat.

Different Types of Lhosar:

There are different types of Lhosar celebrated by different communities of People. Some of them are given below:

In Nepal, the Buddhist community celebrates three different Lhosars: Tamu Lhosar in Dec/Jan, Sonam Lhosar in Jan/Feb and Gyalpo Lhosar in Feb/Mar.

• Gyalpo (Sherpa Losar)
• Sonam (Tamang Losar)
• Tamu (Gurung Losar)

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How Losar is Celebrated:

For all Tibetan-speaking people of Nepal, Tibetan New Year is a major holiday. It is celebrated for 15 straight days, but the main festivities occur during the first three days. During the first day of the festival, “Changkol” is made. Changkol is a special New Year dish based on pastry and dried cheese. On the second and third-day​, folk dances are performed, and people visit temples for blessings.

Gyalpo Lhosar (Sherpa Losar):

Gyalpo Losar is well known via the Sherpa network residing in Himalayan area. The date is set as in keeping with the Tibetan calendar . The Tibetan calendar consists of 12 lunar months and the first day of the primary month is Losar.

Losar is celebrated according to the changing year of numerous animals and birds of twelve species each year. Celebrations and rituals ultimate for five to fifteen days as in keeping with the culture of different areas and groups. On the new 12 months, people visits monasteries of their conventional costumes.

Buddhist priests perform masked dances and rituals to drive away bad forces and produce positivity for the circle of relatives and the people. Monasteries are attractively embellished and people take benefits from monks for their progress, prosperity and happiness. The events are accompanied via extensive feasts in homes.

In Kathmandu Valley, the day is generally marked by using organizing cultural programs with meals stalls and enjoyment for adults in addition to kids at Tudikhel. Delicacies with forms of red meat, duck, chook, which includes sweets and deserts are organized for own family amassing. Musical programs are done with Tamang Selo and Damfu (conventional musical drum). Celebrations consist of sharing and retaining of centuries long tradition and sub-culture.

Sonam Lhosar (Tamang Losar):

Sonam Losar is the Tamang New year. Sonam Losar is well known through the influential Tamang ethnic organization and those of Helambu take a look at with an awful lot fanfare. In keeping with the Buddhist Lunar Calendar, Sonam Lhosar usually starts offevolved from new moon day of Magh.

Namobuddha, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and other monasteries are decorated by means of prayer flags. The complete Tamang community of Nepal celebrates Sonam Lhosar. Tamang actually way horse investors and are people dwelling within the highland mountainous regions of Nepal

Pork, chicken, mutton, fish, and sweet desserts are consumed in the Sonam Lhosar. Khapsey and Babar (kind a like chapati but made of rice) and Thongsey are mainly eat in Hyolmo Community.

People wear traditional dresses and jewellery to participate in cultural events and exchange the greetings with each another. Tamang Selo and the Damphu is played in the festival for dance. Syabru is commonly dance in Hyolmo Community.

The songs sung on the occasion of Sonam Losar highlight the vitality of the Tamang community. These songs are also called Hwai, according to the official website of the Sikkim government. Any celebration is considered incomplete without these songs.

The Tamangs clean and decorate their house to welcome the new year. On the new year, they will visit monasteries and stupas in their traditional costumes. Buddhist monks perform masked dances and rituals to drive away negative forces and bring positivity for the family and the people.

The stupas, monasteries, houses rooftop and mountain top are festooned with colourful prayer flags and decorative items intended to bring peace and harmony.

Tamu Lhosar (Gurung Losar):

Tamu is another name of Nepal’s Gurung family. Tamu Losar is the beginning of the Sambat Tamu according to the Gurung calendar. The day usually falls in the mid of Poush at the end of December. Gurung communities in different parts of the world enjoy the festival organizing social and family events, cultural programs and festivities at Buddhist shrines.

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