Losar celebrations begin at McLeodganj temple

Dharamsala, February 10

The celebration of Losar, Tibetan New Year, started at the Dalai Lama temple in McLeodganj here today. The year of wood dragon festivities would be observed up to February 12.

Early this morning, Penpa Tsering, Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan government-in-exile, parliamentarians and the staff along with the monks of the Namgyal Monastery gathered at Tsuglagkhang (Dalai Lama temple) to celebrate Tsetor, a ceremony that was practised since the second Dalai Lama. The ritual observance began with a prayer service, followed by an offering of mandala to the Dalai Lama’s throne from the heads of the CTA’s three pillars.

Marks end of winter

• Losar marks the end of winter and the start of spring season
• The end of the Losar festival after three days is considered the first day of New Year, according to the Tibetan calendar and tradition
• On this day, the Tibetan exiles pay obeisance to their spiritual guru, the Dalai Lama
• The preparations for Losar start on the 29th day of the last month of the Tibetan year
• On the first day of the New Year, Tibetans avoid purchasing anything or spending money

Losar marks the end of the winter and the start of the spring season. The end of the Losar festival after three days is considered the first day of New Year, according to the Tibetan calendar and tradition. On this day, the Tibetan exiles pay obeisance to their spiritual guru, the Dalai Lama.

On the first day of the New Year, the Tibetans avoid purchasing anything or spending money. This behaviour is guided by the belief that if they spend on the first day, they will be under debt for the entire year.

Besides, every Tibetan grew in age by one year today. In Tibetan tradition, the first day of New Year is considered as a measure of increase in the age rather than the birthday, as followed among other communities.

As per the tradition, the preparations for Losar start on the 29th day of the last month of the Tibetan year. On this day, all members of a family come together. They clean up the house, especially the kitchen. Thupa, traditional Tibetan food, is prepared for dinner; it is cooked in a single utensil and served to all collectively.

Since most of the Tibetans were nomads living in cold desert areas of Tibet, as per the tradition on the 29th day of the last month, men used to take bath and clean themselves after extreme winter. The women members of the family take bath on the 30th day of the last month of the Tibetan year.

A game is played by the members of the family on the 30th of last month. In the game things are distributed to family members according to which their behaviour in the last year is evaluated.

The major festivities and public celebrations for the festival would take place on February 12, the third day of Losar.