Starting today, the Year of the Snake ends and the Year of the Horse begins. Sonam Lhosar is divided into 12 categories: Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon (Cloud), Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Bird, Dog, and Pig.
What you should know
The Tamang community is celebrating Sonam Lhosar, or the New Year festival, which is celebrated every year on the first day of the first full moon of Magh month, with various programs today.
According to the Manjushree calendar, the 2862nd year has begun from today. The year of the snake will end today and the year of the horse will begin. Sonam Lhosar has been divided into 12 categories: rat, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon (cloud), snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and pig.
Tika Sherpa, a researcher who is a nature worshipper, said that all the 12 years of Lhosar are counted by the names of animals and birds. This festival is specially celebrated in various districts of Bagmati Province, where the Tamang community is in the majority.
The Boudhanath Area Development Committee has stated that it will organize various programs in the Buddhist region on the occasion of the festival. Similarly, Nepal Tamang Ghedung has started various programs in Tundikhel for three days from Saturday on the occasion of this festival. Similarly, it is said that Sonam Lhosar is being celebrated by organizing various programs in the Swayambhu area of the capital.
This tradition, which is believed to be about 4,700 years old, is also celebrated in countries including Nepal, China, Mongolia, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and others. In Nepal, the Tamang community, along with the Hyolmo, Manange, Dolpo, Thakali, Jirel, Dura and some Sherpa communities, also celebrate this festival.
On this occasion, the Lhosar Festival has been organized in Tundikhel in the capital since Sunday. Special cultural tableaus, traditional songs and dances of the Tamang community, Tamba, Bonbo and Lamas, will be presented under the festival. In addition, there will be performances by nationally and internationally renowned artists, according to the main event committee.
