Lhosar - Tibetan New Year

Sherpas and Tibetans welcome their New Year with feasts, family visits and dancing. During this festival, the daughters and sisters are invited to receive blessings along with exchanging of greetings amongst one another.

Buddhist monks offer prayers for good health and prosperity, and perform dances at the monasteries. People wear new clothes and finest jewelries and exchange gifts during the festival. Colorful prayer flags decorate streets and roof tops; the colors seem especially brilliant at the Bouddha and Swayambhu stupas. Crowds of celebrants at Bouddha bring in the New Year by throwing tsampa (roasted barley flour) into the air.

This festival that originated in China is now also observed in Singapore, Mongolia, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar and Japan.Lhosar festival is celebrated by the Tamang, Sherpa, Gurung, Magar, Thakali, Jirel, Nesyangba, Bhote, Dura and Lepcha community as a new year.