Tamang Community celebrates Sonam Lhosar welcoming Year of Snake
The Tamang community in Nepal is celebrating Sonam Lhosar today, marking the beginning of their Lunar New Year. This festival ushers in the Year of the Snake, following the conclusion of the Year of the Cat.
Sonam Lhosar is one of the major festivals of the Tamang community. It is observed on the first day of the new moon in the month of Magh, according to the Bikram Sambat calendar, which typically corresponds to February in the Gregorian calendar. The term “Lhosar” translates to “New Year” or “beginning of a new era,” and this particular celebration is significant for the Tamang and Hyolmo communities in Nepal.
In Nepal, especially in areas with a significant Tamang population, such as Kathmandu, Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchok, the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Public events, parades, and cultural performances are organized, showcasing the rich heritage of the Tamang community. Major events are held in areas with significant Tamang populations, including various districts in the Bagmati region and parts of the Kathmandu Valley. These celebrations offer a vibrant display of cultural heritage.
Sonam Lhosar is celebrated by the Tamang people with various cultural programs. People dress in their traditional attire, visit monasteries and stupas and offer prayers for peace, prosperity, and good health in the coming year. The festival is a time for family gatherings, cultural exchange, and community bonding. The festival includes cleaning and decorating homes to welcome the new year and performing masked dances and rituals to ward off negative energies. Communal activities feature traditional music and dance performances, with the Tamang Selo dance accompanied by the damphu drum being particularly prominent.
Sonam Lhosar is one of several Lhosar festivals in Nepal, each associated with different communities. While Sonam Lhosar is celebrated by the Tamang people, Tamu Lhosar is observed by the Gurung community, and Gyalpo Lhosar by the Sherpa community, each at different times of the year.
It’s a wonderful opportunity to witness and participate in the rich cultural traditions of the Tamang community as they welcome the new year. You might witness vibrant celebrations, including the display of the Tamang Selo dance, traditional music, and the preparation of special festive foods. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience the cultural diversity and traditions of Nepal.
The government of Nepal has declared a public holiday across the country in honor of Sonam Lhosar.
