losar

Losar, also spelled Lhosar, is the Tibetan New Year festival. It is the most important holiday in Tibetan Buddhism and is celebrated by Tibetans and many Himalayan communities, including Ladakh, Sikkim, Bhutan, and parts of Nepal. The festival marks the start of the new year according to the Tibetan lunar calendar and typically falls in late January or February. The celebrations last about 15 days, with the main day of the lunar new year being the focal point of ritual activities.

Traditions associated with Losar include thorough house cleaning and decoration with religious imagery, offerings to protectors and deities, and family gatherings. People wear new clothes and visit monasteries or relatives to receive blessings from lamas. Special foods are prepared, such as khapse (fried pastries), sweet rice dishes, thukpa, and dumplings like momo. Tea and butter tea are commonly consumed, and butter lamps are lit to invite auspiciousness.

Rituals also involve the preparation of tormas, dough figures offered to deities and protective spirits. In many communities, monasteries perform cham dances and other ceremonies intended to drive away negativity and welcome the coming year. Losar embodies both Buddhist and local indigenous traditions and emphasizes renewal, prosperity, and harmony within family and community.

Regional variations exist across Tibet, Ladakh, Sikkim, and Bhutan, with differences in dates, foods, and rites, but the core concept remains the same: a festive period to begin the year with blessings and goodwill.