Kathmandu, December 30
The Gurung community is observing Tamu Lhosar today as their New Year. In the Gurung language, ‘Lho’ means year and ‘Sar’ denotes change. Members of the Gurung community mark the festival by organising feasts and cultural programmes. The festival is marked on the 15th day of the Nepali month of Poush, with the first rays of sunlight reaching the Gurung settlements in Lamjung, Gorkha, Tanahun, Syangja, Manang, Kaski, and Parbat.
The festival is marked by the Tamang and Sherpa communities later in the Nepali months of Magh and Falgun, respectively. The government has announced a public holiday on the occasion of Tamu Lhosar today. Members of the Gurung community have been observing a special programme at Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on the occasion of Tamu Lhosar.
The Gurungs divide their year into 12 cycles and each cycle is represented by 12 different animals — Garuda (eagle), serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, deer, mouse, cow, tiger and cat — which they call “Lho.”
During each Lhosar, they bid farewell to the existing ‘Lho’ and welcome a new one. This year, the Gurung community is going to celebrate Lhosar by bidding farewell to the Snake cycle and welcoming the Horse cycle on Tuesday.
