Kathmandu: The Gurung community is observing Tamu Lhosar on December 10, marking the beginning of the community’s New Year. In the Gurung language, ‘Lho’ means year and ‘Sar’ signifies change.
The festival is celebrated with feasts, traditional rituals, and vibrant cultural programmes. It falls on the 15th day of the Nepali month of Poush, when the first rays of sunlight reach Gurung settlements in districts such as Lamjung, Gorkha, Tanahun, Syangja, Manang, Kaski and Parbat.
Tamu Lhosar is also observed by the Tamang and Sherpa communities later in the Nepali months of Magh and Falgun, respectively.
In recognition of the occasion, the government has declared a public holiday today. Members of the Gurung community are marking the festival with special programmes at Tundikhel in Kathmandu and in Gurung settlements across the country.
The Gurung calendar divides the year into 12 cycles, each represented by an animal known as “Lho”: Garuda (eagle), serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, deer, mouse, cow, tiger and cat. During each Lhosar, the community bids farewell to the outgoing Lho and welcomes the new one.
This year, Tamu Lhosar is being celebrated by bidding farewell to the Snake cycle and ushering in the Horse cycle.
(RSS)
