KATHMANDU, Jan 22: People from the Tamang community are celebrating the 2159th Sonam Lhosar with fanfare by exchanging greetings and feasting on traditional cuisines on Sunday.
‘Lho’ means year and ‘Sar’ means new or fresh if translated, and the word ‘Sonam’ refers to the Tamang people in Nepal. Thus the festival ‘Sonam Lhosar’ is the New Year event, according to the calendar followed by the Tamang people which falls on Magh Shukla Pakshya every year, according to the Lunar calendar.
Sonam Lhosar being observed today
According to the Manju Shree calendar, Tamangs divide their year into 12 cycles; each is given a special name, based on the name of animals. This year the Tamang community is celebrating the Cat Year which starts from today marking the end of the Tiger Year.
In this festival, the houses and neighborhood are kept clean, holy clothes are hoisted and pooja is conducted by worshiping Lord Buddha. The Lama and gurus gather, and dances are performed in the Tamang community. People take blessings from monks and elders for their progress, prosperity and happiness. The events are followed by extensive feasts. Meat of pigs, ducks, chickens etc and sweet desserts are prepared for family gatherings.
