For quake victims, Tibetan New Year to be low-key affair

The Tibetan New Year, Losar, which used to attract domestic and international tourists to Dharamsala would be a low-key affair this year. Losar will be celebrated from February 28 to March 2 this year. To express solidarity with the victims of earthquake in Tibet, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has issued an appeal to the Tibetan community in exile against organising cultural events during Losar.

The CTA’s Department of Religion and Culture urged the Tibetan community in exile to refrain from performing the traditional Lhakar dance (Gorshey or Tibetan Circle Dance) for 49 days to mourn and show solidarity with the victims of the devastating quake that struck Tibet’s Dingri this month.

The 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck the Dingri area of Tibet on January 7 this year caused severe destruction across multiple areas, including Lhatse, Dramtso, Chula, Tsogo, Sakya, Tingkye and Ngamring. According to reliable sources within Tibet, the death toll in quake has risen to 134, surpassing the figures reported by the Chinese state-run media, the CTA has maintained.

In response to the disaster, the CTA has called on Tibetans in exile and in the diaspora to observe the 49-day mourning period in honour of those who lost their lives.

“A 7.1 magnitude quake struck Tibet on January 7 causing significant destruction, particularly in Dingri. In solidarity with survivors and to honour those who lost their lives, Tibetans in exile have decided to suspend the Lhakar for seven weeks,” the CTA announced in an official statement.

Lhakar or “White Wednesday,” is a weekly cultural observance among Tibetans that celebrates Tibetan identity through traditional practices, including dance, attire and language. The CTA’s request to suspend the Lhakar dance for 49 days aligns with the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of observing a mourning period following a person’s passing, signifying spiritual support for the deceased and their families.