Losar offerings
File photo
Tibetans celebrated the Tibetan Losar (new year) of the upcoming Earth dog year of the lunar calendar on February 16. Losar is the most widely celebrated festival in the Tibetan calendar and represents a time for all things to be purified and renewed. All past misdeeds and negativity are purified and family bonds are rekindled for the year to come. Losar brings a celebrative atmosphere where families, friends and acquaintances spend the days cherishing love, happiness and a sense of belonging.
This day begins with the sound of fire crackers and warm greetings to family, friends and neighbours. Wearing their finest brocade Chupas, Tibetans visit nearby monasteries or their family altar to offer khatags [traditional Tibetan white greetings scarves] and prayers for good health, happiness and peace for all sentient being. These ceremonies are followed with feasts and parties, with Tibetan songs and dance performances to keep everyone entertained. The third day of Losar starts with sangsol or a ritual offering to the protective deities and worldly gods to ensure that the coming year is filled with good luck and protection.
Tibetans visiting temple on the first day of Losar
Photo: tibet.net
The two days prior to the Losar are just as important; the 28th day of the final month of the Tibetan calendar is spent cleaning and purifying homes and the environment while the 29th day is considered to be the time for warding off the negativity and misfortunes of the past year by making lue – a dough effigy of barley – Gutor, which is thrown out of the house. Tibetans also enjoy guthuk which is a hand rolled noodle. The Tibetans of Dharamshala this year had a chikdril guthuk– a guthuk street party – which was initiated by Mr Lhakpa Tsering of Tibetan Theatres in Mcleod Ganj main square. Mr Lhakpa Tsering said the chikdril guthuk was aimed at creating unity within the Tibetan community and setting an example for the younger generation.
Losar also brings Tibetans residing abroad together to celebrate this day. Tibetans in Belgium gathered in Antwerp to celebrate a day long celebration during which they installed a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the throne and enjoyed a performance of dance and song by the children of the Tibetan community. Mr Tashi Phuntsok, the representative of His Holiness in the EU and west Europe was chief guest at the celebration.
Elsewhere, in Moscow, Russia, Tibetans were joined for the losar celebrations by Mongolians, Buryats, Tuvans and Kalmyks who all also follows the lunar calendar. On February 17 the honorary Telo Tulku Rinpoche gave a Buddhist discourse to over 400 people at the Open World auditorium in Moscow, this was followed by a recitation of a long-life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and cultural performances by each of the Buddhist republics present. The event concluded with a banquet for friends of Tibet in Russia.
In Washington DC, Tibetan losar was celebrated in the state department for the fourth time.
Photo: tibet.net
The Kashag or Cabinet of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile sent Losar greetings and Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, President of the Central Tibetan Administration announced that the year 2018 is to be marked as “Thank You Year” to express gratitude to the Indian government and its people for giving a home to His Holiness and the Tibetan people for 60 years. He invited the entire Tibetan community to join the campaign.
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