Losar Festival in Nepal: All You Need To Know

Publishded: 2022-12-25 | Total Views: 978

The literal meaning of Losar is New Year and follows the cycle of 12 years called LOHKAR. Barga (LO) is a unique name given yearly and represented by a different animal. Its reputed attributes like mouse, cow, tiger, cat, garuda, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, and deer.

 

This festival is celebrated in Buddhist religious follower communities like Sherpa, Tamang, and Gurung. In Nepal, when there was no calendar, the 12-rotation system was used to calculate people's ages, which still this generation, our old grandmother used to do.

 

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On the day of the festival, people visit the monasteries and stupas to pray, worship, and have a blessing from the monk for happiness and well-being. The ethnic people clad in their traditional costumes and perform their cultural dancing with singing, welcoming the New Year with feasts and family gatherings.

There are three kinds of Losar in Nepal, which different community people celebrate.

Tamu Losar – this one is celebrated by the Gurungs community every year in the month of December/January.

Sonam Losar – It’s celebrated by the Tamang Community every year in the month of January to mid-February.

Gyalpo Losar – The Sherpa community celebrates it in February.

 

GYALPO LOSAR

It’s celebrated by the Sherpa community living in the Himalayan region of Nepal. They are world-famous mountain climbers and the first ones to scale Mount Everest in Nepal. It’s celebrated typically for almost two weeks. Preparation for the festive begins by making a special Sherpa snack KHAPSE, a deep-fried pastry that is commonly eaten during the festive.

The houses are cleaned, and some unique dishes are cooked, and one of the recipes is soup served with dumplings called GUTHUK. Sometimes, different hidden items are used in filling the dumpling, which comments on the nature of people.

 

Family Gather During the Festival

During the festival, people recall the struggle between good and evil in their ceremonial dance, and the lama chants mantras and passes the fire torches through the crowds. People perform the traditional dance battle encounter between the king and the deer and amuse the spectators.

It is a festival for families, relatives, and friends reuniting, celebrating with partying, and exchanging gifts and greetings.

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