People in Sikkim will celebrate the Tibetan New Year, Losar, on February 21 this year. In light of the state-wide celebration of the occasion, all banks will be closed on Tuesday. While net banking and online services will remain functional on the day, the physical branches of all the banks in the state will observe the holiday. People are advised not to schedule any tasks that require a visit to the bank for February 21.

Losar, a traditional Buddhist festival, marks the beginning of the lunar calendar. It is one of the most unique and lively celebrations in Sikkim. The annual celebrations lasts for 15 days and feature fervent music and dance performances in colorful outfits on the streets.

The beginning of the Losar Festival

Losar is a significant cultural and religious festival in Tibet that has been celebrated for over 1,000 years. Tibetan refugees brought the festival with them when they settled in this region. People believe that Losar marks the victory of good over evil and signifies the victory of light over darkness.

The festival, and other cultural elements from Tibet, have assimilated into Sikkim’s culture over time. Losar now marks not just the Tibetan New Year, but also the harvest season in the Northeastern state as well.

Celebratory Mood

The annual Losar Festival in Tibet draws throngs of visitors to local monasteries for prayer and offerings, with additional attractions such as traditional games and sports competitions, feasts, and music and dance performances.

Preparations for the festival begin weeks in advance, with a flurry of activities, including housecleaning, decorations, and new clothing purchases. Special offerings are made to the gods, and traditional foods like momos, rice cakes, and barley wine are prepared for the feast. Monasteries are adorned with festive decor, and monks engage in sacred rituals to usher in the new year.

The festivities are centered around two key venues - Rumtek Monastery and Phodong Monastery. Locals and visitors alike gather here to participate in prayer and revelry. The prayer ceremonies, which are followed by a cultural showcase, offer a unique insight into the region’s deep-rooted traditions. Among the must-see events are the mesmerizing, masked Cham dance and various art forms.

Tibetans in-exile celebrate Tibetan New Year, Losar in Dharamshala

 Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India]: The Tibetans in exile in Dharamshala on Tuesday celebrated Losar, the Tibetan New Year. Ministers and members of the Tibetan government in exile offered special prayers at the main Buddhist temple Tsuglagkhang here.

They welcomed the new 'Water Hare year 2150' and said goodbye to 'Water Tiger year 2149,' according to the Tibetan lunar calendar. Buddhist monks from Namgyal monastery led the prayer ceremony in Dharamshala this morning.

Nawang Jigmey, a monk from the monastery said: "This is the first day of lunar Tibetan new year. So, we celebrate by doing the protractor prayers especially the Palden Lhamo, the main protector of the Tibetan government in-exile and Tibetan government in general and specially the protector of the Dalai Lama."

"So, we pray to the Palden Lhamo and also for the local spirit to have good harvest and good rain. We always pray for wellness of all human beings. We pray to solve the issue of Tibet as soon as possible and for the well being of all human beings," Jigmey said.
Security minister of Tibetan government-in-exile Dolma Tsering said, "As you know today is Losar, in Tibetan Lo is year and Sar is new so it's a new year for us. We Tibetans and also a lot of population in the Himalayan belt, follow the Tibetan lunar calendar which is very different and separate from the Chinese calendar."

"So, today Losar is being celebrated by all Tibetans both inside and outside Tibet... definitely I have in my heart the people living inside Tibet and we pray and look forward to a day that we are unified together under the leadership of his Holiness the Dalai Lama," he said.

The Tibetan Youth Congress recently organized Rangzen or freedom concert at Majnu ka Tila in New Delhi to mark the 110th anniversary of the 13th Dalai Lama's proclamation of reaffirmation of Tibet's independence.

Tibetans performed songs and dances to celebrate the independence of Tibet.

They showcased the independent lifestyle and freedom they enjoy while being outside of Tibet as compared to the lifestyle of Tibetans in occupied Tibet. The program showcased songs and dances focussing on Tibetan culture and their aspiration for independence.

Tibetan Youth Congress is a worldwide organization of Tibetans united in a common struggle for the restoration of complete independence for the whole of Tibet, which includes the traditional three provinces of U-Tsang, Do-toe, and Do-med.

The Tibet Press recently reported that the suppression of Tibetans under China's authoritarian regime continues as the monitoring is becoming heavy with every passing day in the region. Due to political sensitivity in the region, Tibetans experience harsher consequences and more intense monitoring than citizens in other countries, Tibet Press reported.

ANI