Nepalese celebrating Sonam Losar

Sonam Losar is one of the central festivals among 125 ethnicities living in Nepal, of which some are of Indian origin, and some of Tibetan origin. Therefore, it is natural that many of the country’s festivals are similar to those of the neighboring regions. As far as the latter is concerned, Losar is the festival that comes to mind uppermost. In Tibet, Losar (Lo: year sar: new) is the most important festival among its numerous other festivals. So too is it for many communities in Nepal, such as the Tamu (Gurungs), the Tamangs, and the Sherpas, Bhutiyas, and Yolmos.

Sonam Losar begin on the last day of 12th month of the year, when homes and communities are swept thoroughly, cleaned, and made spick and span. This is to create a suitable environment to welcome one more New Year. New dresses are the norm, along with decorations for the house, so it’s a good time for business – for shopkeepers. Most people decorate their doors and windows with colorful papers and cloth imprinted with quotes depicting happiness, good fortune, wealth, longevity, and so on. And, of course, can any festival be complete without feasts? Families and relatives have get-togethers to partake of lovingly made meals. Pigs, chicken, ducks, sweet delicacies, and so on are the order of the day. Similarly, music too is an integral part of Losar, and there will be plenty of folks around to sing the famous Tamang Selo—songs of humor and wit and joy and sorrow—accompanied by rhythmic beats of a small round drum known as a damphu.

The monasteries, of course, are a focal point. Since Losar is a celebration of people of the Buddhist faith, people flock to monasteries nearby to offer their prayers, and some monasteries organize special dances by masked-dancers to get rid of all negative forces. In Kathmandu, Sonam Losar is celebrated as a public spectacle in Tundikhel. The capital has large numbers of Tamangs, and many more continue to migrate from adjoining districts, which means that the crowd is really huge during Sonam Losar in Kathmandu. It’s more of a cultural fest, with men and women in their colorful traditional dresses (the women adorned with ethnic jewelry), food stalls serving Tamang cuisine, song and dance performances, etc