Vlog By: Ms Pasang Gurung
Let’s have a look on Lhosar i.e. Gyalpo lhosar in Nepal or Tibetan Lhosar which is celebrate around mid-February by the Tibetan people in Nepal. It is the time where Gurungs, Tamang, Sherpa, Magar, Thakali, Manange, Helmuli and Tibetan communities of Nepal showcase their national outfits and culture. Lhosar is kind of new year for the Tibetan people as per the lunar calendar. The 12 animals in the calendar followed in Nepal are same as the Chinese Zodiac – Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.This festival also indicates the end of winter and the beginning of spring across Nepal. They celebrate this festival with full of happiness and enjoyment.
It is the occasion where family members from different parts of the world comes together to be with each other. So lots of management has to be done as too many people are gathering for the festival. Many things has to be done before the lhosar like cleaning the house and preparing delicious food and so on. They prepare a special kind of deep-fried traditional biscuit or snack which is called Khapse and kind of wine which is made up of rice .i.e. Chyaang.
At the end of the last month for celebrating lhosar, special kind of food is prepared in every house which is call Thentup. It is a kind of soup food. In preparation of this they put some kind of cheat on it like black color which represent the dark behavior, white color which represent soft kind of behavior, red color which represent the anger part, salty color which represent the good at business.
On the last month of the year they just go to Ghumba (Buddhist Monastery) for the puja and did the ritual to have faith on their selves. They clean all the house and have some new items which will be needed for the daily purpose. On the 15 days before Lhosar, before they prepare the snack khapse and there will be different shape and sizes for it. They also prepare some kind of roti (deep-fried biscuit) and there is believing that those roti has our own issue on last year so to end up with those thing they must eat that roti. There is believe but some will believe and some won’t.
On the first day of the year worship to and getting the blessing from the elder ones, exchanging the greetings are done. Then they spent good and quality time with friends and family. It’s welcoming a new year to friends and families.
During Lhosar major Buddhist monasteries and stupas like Swoyambhunath, Boudhanath are decorated with prayer flags. People perform their cultural dance and welcome the New Year with feasts and family gatherings. The dances are usually seen in Khumbu, Helambu, Boudhanath and Tudikhel in Kathmandu.
In the eve of Lhosar, the Lama Priest chant the holy books establishing the statue of Buddha. The family members say Happy New Year, salute Buddha and burn scented sticks or incense as the part of the ritual. After the Lhosar festival the year ends.
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