Dharamsala, February 15 – Come Losar and Tibetans go into a festive mood as it is an annual occasion when the entire Tibetan community has a reason to plunge into joy and merry-making. They make new year resolutions amid the air of festivity and jubilation. This time round the festive occasion falls on February 21.
Losar, the new year festival of Tibetans, commences on the first day of the first month of the new year, which usually falls in February every year. Losar is said to have its genesis in the pre-Buddhist period in Tibet.
Legend has it that before Buddhism, the Tibetans practised the Bon religion. According to history, Losar was first celebrated in the Lhokha Yarla Shampo region of Tibet coinciding with blossoming of apricot trees, hence also known as farmers’ festival.
On the occasion, Tibetan women paint their kitchen walls with flour solution and draw images of eight deities symbolising good fortune on them. Doorsteps are dotted with “Swastika” symbols.
Eatables and other articles meant for prayer on the first day of Losar are usually placed on the altar of one’s chapel in the evening. Delicacies like khu-khu, gachen, nayashok, mokdung, nagarlen, pin-pin and chang (Tibetan beer) are the favourites during the Losar celebrations.
Officially, Losar is celebrated for three days whereas in a typical Tibetan household, the celebrations last 10 days. The first day of the new year is called Lama Losar (the day of the guru).
The day is dedicated to his holiness, the Dalai Lama, who is the spiritual head of the Tibetans.
