Gyalpo Lhosar is a Buddhist festival. The Sherpa community has been making Gyalpo Lhosar for the New Year.
Rats, cows, tigers, rabbits, dragons (clouds), snakes, horses, sheep, monkeys, birds, dogs and pigs have been divided into Gyalpo Lhosar in 12 years.
In March the people of Nepal, Tibet and many neighboring Asian countries begin preparations for a holiday known as Lhosar, which celebrates the start of the new year.
The term Lhosar is derived from two words Lo, meaning year and Sar, the word for new. Mostly the Sherpa, Tibetan, Tamang, Bhutia and Yolmo people, celebrate Lhosar in Nepal. Gyalpo Lhosar, specifically, is the celebration of the Tibetan new year. Although different communities in Nepal have their own versions, the following account is typical to the celebrations of the Sherpa people.
According to ancient lore, Lhosar was first celebrated when an old woman named Belma introduced the measurement of time based on the phases of the moon. In ancient times, people went to the local spring to perform rituals of gratitude. Offerings were made to the Nagas, or water spirits, who activated the water element in the area, and smoke offerings were made to the local spirits associated with the natural world. These rituals took place for an entire month leading up to new year’s day.
Today’s Lhosar celebrations typically last only two weeks and revolve around food, family and festivities. Preparation of Lhosar begins by making special Sherpa snack – Khapse, a deep-fried pastry commonly eaten during the Lhosar, symbolizing the start of holiday celebrations.
Two days before the Lhosar, everyone in a Sherpa family gathers and enjoys a special soup called Gutung. Prepared with a combination of nine different kinds of beans, tradition states that each member in the family should have nine bowls of this soup. Gutung is also served with special type of dumpling, which contain different hidden objects used in the place of fillings. The hidden items are often strange, such as wood, salt, or even coal and are jokingly meant to relate to the character of the person they are chosen for.
The day before Lhosar, families gather to clean and decorate their homes. That same evening, once the clock strikes midnight, the traditional greeting, “Tashi Delek” is exchanged and friends and family stay up late to welcome each other to the new year. The following morning many Sherpa change the Dhoja, or prayer flags, in their homes, symbolizing a fresh start to the year. The day continues with a special beverage called Changkol made from Chaang (a Tibetan version of beer). People celebrate by singing or dancing to traditional Sherpa songs, eating and drinking.
In the afternoon, people get together and continue the celebration. Many traditional ceremonial dances representing the struggle between demons and gods are performed at local Monasteries. Mantras are chanted and fire torches are passed among all the people in the crowd. Children often enjoy Lhosar the most as the environment is festive and full of delicious food, sweets and gifts.
In the evening, celebration winds down with dinner with family and loved ones, marking the beginning of new year. Although the traditions of Lhosar have adapted to modern times and busier schedules, the joy, happiness and essence of Lhosar is still same.
Why is Lhosar celebrated?
According to ancient lore, Lhosar was first celebrated when an old woman named Belma introduced the measurement of time based on the phases of the moon.
During ancient times, people went to the local spring to perform rituals of gratitude. Offerings were made to the Nagas, or water spirits, who activated the water element in the area, and smoke offerings were made to the local spirits associated with the natural world. Traditionally these rituals traditionally took place for an entire month leading up to new year’s day.
How is Lhosar celebrated?
Today’s Lhosar celebrations typically last only about two weeks, following the latter half of the lunar cycle from Falgun Shukla Pratipada, waxing moon, to full moon. The celebrations revolve around food, family and festivities, with Lhosar traditionally beginning with participants preparing a special Sherpa snack – Khapse, a deep-fried pastry commonly eaten during the Lhosar that symbolizes the start of holiday celebrations.
Two days before the Lhosar, everyone in a Sherpa family gathers and enjoys a special soup called Gutung, which is prepared with a combination of nine different kinds of beans. Tradition states that each member in the family should have nine bowls of this soup. Gutung is also served with a special type of dumpling, which contains different hidden objects used in the place of fillings. These hidden items are often strange, such as wood, salt, or even coal, and are jokingly meant to relate to the character of the person they are chosen for.
The day before Lhosar, families gather to clean and decorate their homes. That same evening, once the clock strikes midnight, the traditional greeting “Tashi Delek” is exchanged and friends and family stay up late to welcome each other to the new year. The following morning many Sherpa change the Dhoja, or prayer flags, in their homes, symbolizing a fresh start to the year. The day continues with a special beverage called Changkol made from Chaang (a Tibetan version of beer). People celebrate by singing or dancing to traditional Sherpa songs, eating and drinking.
Lhosar festivities in Nepal
While Gyalpo Lhosar lasts two weeks these days, the majority of the celebrations take place during the first three days. In the afternoon, people get together and continue the celebration. Many traditional ceremonial dances representing the struggle between demons and gods are performed at local Monasteries. Mantras are chanted and fire torches are passed among all the people in the crowd.
Children often enjoy Lhosar the most as the environment is festive and full of delicious food, sweets and gifts.
In the evening, celebration winds down with dinner with family and loved ones, marking the beginning of New Year. Although the traditions of Lhosar have adapted for modern times and busier schedules, the joy, energy and essence of Lhosar is still the same.
FACEBOOK COMMENTS