KATHMANDU, March 11: The Gyalpo Lhosar, the cultural festival of the Sherpa community that falls on the Shukla Pratipada in the Nepali month of Falgun is being marked today by organizing different programs.

The festival is observed as the New Year by the Sherpa community who primarily reside in the mountainous region of Nepal. The festival is celebrated mainly in 22 districts in the country.

The festival is celebrated with gaiety and much fun from the Shukla Pratipada to Purnima. This festival is also celebrated by Mahayan Buddhists as their New Year.

Experts say people in Nepal began celebrating this festival from the time of the ninth king of Bhot Uday Gungyal. The festival is also termed as Gyalbo Lhosar, according to researcher Tika Sherpa.

On this occasion, people belonging to the Sherpa community clean up their houses and villages, sources of water and flutter new prayer flags on the roof of their houses. They cook delicacies such as Guthuk and Khapse and exchange best wishes with each other to welcome the New Year.

The Gurung community marks its New Year on Paush 15 as the Tamu Lhosar while the Tamang community observes it as Sonam Lhosar on the day of Magh Shukla Pratipada.