Marking the beginning of a new year, Losar is celebrated with great zeal as per the Tibetan calendar in the northern parts of India. You can be a part of a prominent socio-religious event with various ceremonies that continue for 15 days if you take part in this festival during your Ladakh trip. Losar is a very special festival which draws people together.
The Tibetan New Year is celebrated on the famous Losar festival; where ‘Lo’ stands for year and ‘Sar’ stands for New. Due to the influence of Tibetan Buddhism which was spreading in northern India, Jammu and Kashmir has also been celebrating Losar Festival annually. As of today it is being celebrated as Ladakhi New Year in Ladakh. Generally falling at the end of January or in February depending on the Tibetan calendar, Losar is a grand celebration which continues for 15 days, with the first three days having the supreme significance.
The dance of the Ibex deer, staged dance dramas, numerous religious rituals and folk music combined together make the festival to be one of the major tourist attractions of Ladakh. A major ceremony which takes place during the festival is the ‘Metho’ ceremony that represents the warding off of evil from the town.
Hundreds of people gather with flaming torches in their hands and parade through the streets while chanting the special prayers. The torches are thrown away after this ceremony which symbolizes the removal of any evil from the society and people in order to welcome the new year with a fresh beginning. The festival is celebrated by Tibetans, Sherpas, Acharyas, Bhutanese, Gurungs, Yolmo, Bhutias and several other Himalayan natives.
Highlights
• Losar festival is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm by the people and it is the best time to witness the flavors of Tibetan culture.
• Colorful prayer flags decorate houses, monasteries and even the hills. Men, women, and children also wear their traditional attires.
• ‘Metho’, a traditional ceremony, is an important ritual where people come together hosting flaming torches and chanting sacred prayers parade through the streets to ward off evil and welcome positivity for the new year.
• A special nine dumpling soup, ‘Guthuk’ is prepared only on Losar and enjoyed together with family and friends.
• On Lama-Losar, the first day of the festival, ‘Changkoi’, a beer-based beverage is prepared and distributed among the people.
How To Reach
The first three days of the festival are the most significant ones with a lot of rituals going around where you will get to experience the traditions of Tibet first hand.
Do Read: Leh Itinerary
Other Essential Information
Timings:
Calculated each year as per the Tibetan calendar, Losar can fall anytime from the end of January to the beginning of March. You can check on the internet beforehand to know about the dates of the upcoming Losar festival.
Fee:
There is no entry fee.
Tips to Know:
Best places to be a part of this annual celebration are Leh-Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling & Himachal Pradesh. The specific location for the festival is different every year.
The date of the festival is variable and changes every year as per the Tibetan calendar, so make sure you check the dates of upcoming Losar festival beforehand if you are planning to be a part of the festival.
You can purchase or rent the traditional attire from local vendors while participating in the Losar festival to feel like a part of the Tibetan culture and tradition.
Recommendation Read: Ladakh in August
Enjoy the festivities on the first three days of Losar
The first three days of Losar are the most significant, and considered to be of utmost importance during the tenure of 15 days of merry celebrations. Lama-Losar is the first day of the festival which marks the beginning of the customary rituals. People visit monasteries, pay respect to the Lamas and spend quality time with their families on Lama-Losar. On the second day, Gyalpo-Losar, official public celebrations such as the staged dance dramas along with other festivities. On the third day, known as Chokyong-Losar, prayer flags are hoisted around the houses and on the hills. Supplication prayers are also read on this day to pay tribute to the guardian deities.
Also Check: Ladakh Winter Tour Package
Witness the fascinating ‘Metho’ Ceremony
A famous ceremonial ritual that brings all the people of town together is held during the Losar festival. People carry torches and chant slogans to ward off evil from the streets as they parade through the town. If you plan your trip around the right dates you may get to witness this bewildering sight of people celebrating their faith and coming together. The torches are thrown away at the end of the ritual which marks the cleansing of evil and also symbolizes the welcome of good luck and positivity for the new year.
Checkout and Book: Cheapest Ladakh Tour Package
Try out traditional Tibetan delicacies
You get to try special preparations only around Losar festival such as ‘Changkoi’, which is a beer-based beverage and ‘Guthuk’, which is a special nine ingredient soup. ‘Chod-shom’ or the altars in every home, is offered with certain preparations such as ‘Derkha’ which is a pile of fried cookies called ‘khases’; this is a way of expressing gratitude towards the deities.
Suggested Read: Leh to Pangong Lake
Tourism Board Alliances
Losar Festival FAQs
What is Losar?
Losar is a festival to celebrate the new year as per the Tibetan calendar; ‘Lo’ translates to ‘Year’ and ‘Sar’ to ‘New’ as per ‘Bodic’ language. It is a grand event with festivities that continue for 15 days and is of great significance for the Buddhist community.
When is Losar celebrated?
Losar is celebrated anywhere from the end of January to the beginning of March depending on when the Tibetan new year begins. It is a festival of great importance as it brings everyone together to celebrate the merry beginning of a new year.
In which states Losar is celebrated?
Leh-Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling & Himachal Pradesh are the places in India where Losar is celebrated.
What is Losar Tashi Delek?
Tashi delek, associated with Losar, is a Tibetan expression which is used as a greeting, to congratulate, and wish good-luck.
Click Here to Book: Bike Trip to Leh Ladakh
What is special about Guthuk?
A special nine ingredient soup prepared around the time of Losar, in which special ingredients such as salt, rice, chili, charcoal, etc are hidden inside the dumplings. As per local beliefs, the white ingredients such as salt or rice symbolize good luck and whoever finds them in their food is considered to be lucky.
.jpg)
.jpg)
