LOSAR FESTIVAL

The first day of Losar in 2023 will fall on February 21. The Tibetan New year, also known as Losar Festival, is the most important festival on the Tibetan calendar.

Losar predates the arrival of Buddhism in Tibet and has its roots in a winter incense-burning custom of the Bon religion. During the reign of the ninth Tibetan king, Pude Gungyal, it is said that this custom merged with a harvest festival to form the annual Losar festival. Common New Year’s greetings include the phrase “Losar bey tashi delek,” which translates to “blessings and good luck for the New Year.

During the festival, people celebrate this festival with some ancient ceremonies which represent the struggle between good and evil. Lamas are chanting and passing fire torches through the crowds. People perform the dance of the deer and amusing battles between the king and his ministers, and so on, people are cheering for the coming new year by dancing, singing, and merrymaking.

In some places, such practices as celebrating Losar for 15 days, with the main celebrations on the first three days. Families prepare for Losar some days in advance by thoroughly cleaning their homes; decorating with fragrant flowers and their walls with auspicious signs painted in flour such as the sun, moon, or a reversed swastika; and preparing cedar, rhododendron, and juniper branches for burning as incense.

People get up very early on New Year’s Day, having taken a bath before dressing in new clothes, then put some offerings on the household shrines to start the family praying ceremony. The housewives will get up extremely early to get “First Water of The Year” and make meals with this water, which is believed to be fairly auspicious. During the day, the family members will be together to have a reunion and send gifts to each other.

May this Tibetan New Year bring along happiness and smiles for you and fill your heart with beautiful memories. Warm wishes on Losar Festival!!