Kathmandu: The Tamang community is celebrating Sonam Lhosar, meaning the New Year, by organizing various programmes across the country today.
According to the Manjushree calendar, the year 2,862 begins today. With the completion of the Year of the Snake, the Year of the Horse has officially commenced. Sonam Lhosar is celebrated every year on the occasion of Magh Shukla Pratipada with various cultural and religious programmes.
Sonam Lhosar is divided into 12 zodiac categories: rat, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon (cloud), snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, and pig.
The festival is especially celebrated in various districts of Bagmati Province, where the Tamang community has a significant presence. In addition to the Tamang community, the Hyolmo, Thakali, Jirel, Nesyangwa, Bhote, Dura, Lepcha, and some other communities also observe the festival with great enthusiasm.
The government has announced a nationwide public holiday on the occasion of Sonam Lhosar, which is being celebrated on Monday this year.
Likewise, Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav has extended best wishes to all communities observing Sonam Lhosar, stating that such festivals help further strengthen the fundamental values of the republican system, including inclusion, equality, federalism, secularism, and the rule of law.
Similarly, National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal has expressed his wishes for social and cultural harmony, brotherhood, and national unity among all ethnic communities, noting that the Sonam Lhosar festival has played a crucial role in protecting and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Tamang community.
