Losar
Also called Lhosar, Gyalpo Lhosar
New year in the Himalayas, with fresh prayer flags
What it is
January to March, on the lunar calendar
Losar is the Bhutanese and Tibetan new year. 'Lo' means year and 'sar' means new. In Bhutan it's a national holiday, and in Nepal it's a big deal for Sherpa, Tamang, Gurung and other Himalayan communities.
How people celebrate
Families clean the whole house before the new year to clear out the bad luck from the old one.
People put up new prayer flags on rooftops, bridges and hillsides.
Families visit monasteries and temples and make offerings to start the year.
In Bhutan, people get together to play archery and khuru, a game kind of like darts.
Relatives get together for big meals in their best traditional clothes.
What people eat
- Guthuk
- A noodle soup eaten just before Losar. Each bowl gets a dough ball with something hidden inside, like chili or salt, and what you find is a joke about your personality.
- Khapse
- Fried dough cookies twisted into shapes, made in big piles for guests.
- Suja
- Butter tea, made with tea leaves, butter and salt.
Did you know?
Nepal has three Losars: Tamu Losar for the Gurung, Sonam Losar for the Tamang and Gyalpo Losar for the Sherpa, each on its own date.