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Losar (ལོ་གསར་) is the Tibetan word for "new year." Lo means year and sar means new. Losar is the most important holiday in Tibet.
Losar is a three day celebration. On the first day of Losar, a beverage called changkol is made from chhaang (Tibetan rice wine, similar to Japanese sake). The second day of Losar is known as King's Losar (gyalpo losar). Losar is traditionally preceded by the five day practice of Vajrakilaya.
Losar is also referred to as the Bhutanese New Year. In Nepal it is referred to as either Losar or Lhochaar.
History
The celebration of Losar predates Buddhism in Tibet.
Practice
Losar rituals include painting houses, wearing new clothes, and resolving quarrels and debts.
Dates
The Tibetan calendar is a lunisolar calendar. Losar is celebrated on the first through third days of the first lunar month.
| Gregorian year | Tibetan year | Losar* | element and animal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2126 | February 5 - February 7 | male iron dragon |
| 2001 | 2127 | January 24 - January 26 | female iron snake (or metal serpent) |
| 2002 | 2128 | February 12 - February 14 | male water horse |
| 2003 | 2129 | February 1 - February 3 | female water sheep (or goat) |
| 2004 | 2130 | January 22 - January 24 | male wood monkey |
| 2005 | 2131 | February 9 - February 11* | female wood bird (or rooster) |
| 2006 | 2132 | January 30 - February 1 | male fire dog |
| 2007 | 2133 | February 18 - February 20 | female fire pig |
| 2008 | 2134 | February 8 - February 10 | male earth rat |
| 2009 | 2135 | January 27 - January 29 | female earth ox |
- * Note: The start date of Losar depends on what time zone one is in. For example, in 2005, Losar started on February 8 in U.S. time zones and February 9 in Asia time zones. Some people began celebrating Losar on February 9 in the US.
See also
External links
New Year celebrations | Tibetan culture | Tibet | Bhutanese culture | Holidays
"Losar"