The Gurung community enjoyed Tamu Lhosar with a lot of excitement recently on 30th December by bidding adieu to the year gone by. In the Gurung language, ‘Lho’ means year or age and ‘Sar’ denotes a change. Members of the Gurung community mark the festival by organising feasts and cultural programmes. The government has announced a public holiday on the occasion of Tamu Lhosar.
Tamu Lhosar is also associated with the rays of the Sun. The festival is marked on the 15th of the Nepali month of Poush. The community divides time in a cycle of 12 years and is represented by 12 different animals each year. These representations are called ‘lho’. The Gurungs inhabit mainly in the mountains in Nepal including Lamjung, Gorkha, Tanahun, Syangja, Manang, Kaski and Parbat.
In Kathmandu, a special programme was organised at Tundikhel to observe the festival. Earlier, people from the community marched from Basantapur to Tundikhel.TamuLhosar was observed in many places around the world such as London, New York, Sidney by the Gurungs and others as well.
Numerous fairs were organised by the Gurungs. Friends and family members dress up in traditional attire and exchange greetings.
The celebration of Tamu Lhosar commences with local monasteries or homes performing religious ceremonies and offering prayers. People go to monasteries to carry out rituals, give thanks for the previous year, and ask Buddhist monks for blessings. Families enjoy each other’s company, share meals, and exchange gifts. Community members dress up in traditional attire and take part in cultural events that highlight the rich heritage.
A grand feast of Gurung cuisine is also prepared as part of the celebration. Visitors and locals gather to participate in celebrations that include a variety of cultural events, traditional food vendors, and on-the-spot competitions.
The Gurung community congregates in a common area to commemorate the event with singing, dancing, and feasting on ‘Sel Roti’ and ‘Achaar,’ two staples of traditional Gurung cuisine.
The Gurung community gathers at monasteries and shrines on Tamu Losar day to offer prayers for a prosperous and joyful new year. Following that, families and friends gather to greet one another and accept blessings from the elderly. People dress in traditional outfits and visit the fairs, which are filled with entertainment options such as dance, music, and kid-friendly joyrides in addition to a variety of food stalls that offer Gurung cuisine.
