KATHMANDU, Dec 30: The Gurung community is celebrating ‘Tamu Lhosar’ today, welcoming their New Year.
The term ‘Lho’ means year, and ‘Sar’ means change, signifying the day when the year changes. Tamu Lhosar is grandly celebrated as the New Year by the Gurung community.
Gurung community celebrates Tamu Lhosar (Photo Feature)
The festival Tamu Lhosar is associated with the sun's rays. According to legend, this festival is celebrated on December 30 (Poush 15 in the Nepali calendar) because the sun's warmth first reaches Gurung-dominated areas like Lamjung, Gorkha, Tanahun, Syangja, Manang, Kaski, and Parbat. It is believed that as the sun’s warmth gradually reaches areas inhabited by Tamang and Sherpa communities, these groups celebrate Lhosar in January (Magh) and February (Falgun), respectively.
The festival also holds significance because December 30 marks the longest night of the year, after which nights gradually become shorter.
To mark Tamu Lhosar, the government has declared a public holiday today. To mark this occassion, the Gurung community has organized a special program at Tundikhel.
