The Tibetan New year, also known as Losar, is the most important festival in the Tibetan calendar. It is celebrated over a period of 2 weeks, generally during the months of December and January. This year, Tibetan New year will take place on Februrary 14th, the same day as the Chinese New Year, which means a lot of government offices will be close for up to 10 days. Therefore, travelers plan to come to Tibet during this time need to plan ahead. It’s great to take part in this most festive event of the year, but it shouldn’t be a last minute trip. If you plan to visit Tibet in mid to late February, right now is the last minute to have those permits done. Come here, be among them then you will experience first hand why people say “If a Tibetan can talk, he/she can sing, if he/she can walk, he/she can sing.”

FYI:
Losar festival is celebrated by Tibetan people and is marked with ancient ceremonies that represents the struggle between good and evil, by chanting, and by passing fire torches through the crowds. Since the systematization of the Tibetan calendar in 1027 A.D., the first day of the first month became fixed as the New Year. A certain amount of levity is provided by events such as the dance of the deer and the amusing battles between the King and his various ministers. Losar Festival is characterized especially by dancing, music, and a general spirit of merrymaking.

On the New Year’s Day, families unite “auspicious dipper” is offered and the auspicious words “tashi delek” are greeted. Young Tibetans wear chuba and pay their first visit of the year to a temple with their family early in the morning. On New Year’s Day, Tibetans are supposed to offer ornaments called ‘Chemar’ and barley beer to their households’ deity and to the water dragon that takes care of their water supply. Be careful as the “beer” served is strong enough to get drunk. On New Year day, Tibetan village women compete with each other to be the first one to take water from their village’s well, which is said to bring good luck.

After saying ‘Tashi Delek’ and exchanging greetings with neighbors, Tibetans do nothing but feast on the food and drink that they have painstakingly prepared. They visit each others’ feasts and have parties full of drinking and singing. The men don’t miss an opportunity to enjoy gambling, with games of ‘Sho’ (dice), ‘Pakchen’ (mah-jong), etc. On New Year’s Day everyone spends time with their family or neighbors and then start paying visits to their relatives on the second day. Children also have a good time New Year’s gifts of candies, etc.

On the 3rd day they replace the year old tar-choks and dar-shings on the roof of their houses with new ones and burn thick bunches of ‘Sang’ (mulberry leaves).