View source for Losoong Festival

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{see also|Indian New Year's days}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name  = Losoong
|type          = Buddhism
|image         = File:Gumpa.jpg
|imagesize     =
|caption       = A new year festival at Lachung monastery in North Sikkim 
|official_name = Losoong
|nickname      = Sonam Losoong, Namsoong
|observedby    = [[Bhutia]]s, [[Lepcha people|Lepchas]]
|litcolor      = 
|longtype      =
|significance  = Sikkimese New Year
|begins        =
|ends          =
|date          = 18th day of the 10th month of the [[Tibetan calendar|Tibetan lunar calendar]].
|date2020      = 27 December
|scheduling    = Changes as per the Sikkimese calendar 
|duration      = Several days
|frequency     = Annual
|celebrations  =
|observances   =
|relatedto     = [[Losar]], [[Galdan Namchot]]
}}
{{Tibetan Buddhism}}
'''Losoong''' is the Sikkimese  New Year,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.windhorsetours.com/festivals_wht/losoong-sikkimese-new-year/|title=Losoong (Sikkimese New Year) - Windhorse Tours|last=Tshering|first=Ugen|work=Windhorse Tours|access-date=2017-08-11}}</ref> of the [[Bhutia]] tribe, celebrated every year in the month of December.

== Tradition ==
Based on the [[Tibetan calendar|Tibetan Lunar Calendar]]

* Losoong falls on the 18th day of the 10th month, when farmers celebrate the harvest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sikkim.gov.in/portal/portal/StatePortal/AboutSikkim/SikkimFestivals|title=State Portal, Government of Sikkim, India - Festivals In Sikkim|website=www.sikkim.gov.in|access-date=2017-08-11}}</ref> 
* It is a traditional festival of the [[Bhutia]]s, but the [[Lepcha people|Lepchas]] also celebrate it and call it '''Namsoong'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ftd.travel/festival/lepcha-and-bhutia-new-year|title=Lepcha(Losoong), Bhutia(Namsoong), Sonam Lhochar - Sikkim New Year|last=FTD.Travel|website=www.ftd.travel|access-date=2017-08-11}}</ref>
* The festival have been adapted from the traditions and rituals of the Tibetan New Year, [[Losar]]. 
* The festival is conducted at the [[Phodong Monastery|Phodong]] and [[Rumtek Monastery|Rumtek Monasteries]] in Sikkim.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xnw-2sU1KMoC&q=Losoong+Festival&pg=PA110|title=Sikkim: A Traveller's Guide|last=Ray|first=Arundhati|date=2001|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=9788178240084}}</ref>

Losoong is not only celebrated in India but its also celebrated in Nepal and Bhutan.

The dance forms performed in the festival depict narrativized tales from the life of Padmasambhava (or Guru Ugyen).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gktoday.in/quiz-questions/lasoong-festival-is-celebrated-in-which-of-the-following-states/|title=Lasoong festival is celebrated in which of the following states? - General Knowledge Today|website=www.gktoday.in|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-16}}</ref>

== Celebration ==
Celebration begins after the priest offers 'Chi-Fut', special alcohol, to the gods. After the offering to gods the effigy of the demon King is burnt. Burning the demon represents destroying the evil.

Certain competitions are organized and merrymaking lasts for several days. The festival is also called '''Sonam Losoong'''. losoong festival is very famous in eastern India.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{New Year by Calendar}}

[[Category:Sikkim]]
[[Category:Tibetan festivals]]
[[Category:Buddhist festivals in Nepal]]
[[Category:Festivals in India]]
[[Category:New Year in India]]
[[Category:New Year celebrations]]
[[Category:Cultural festivals in India]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]
[[Category:Festivals in Bhutan]]
[[Category:Festivals in Nepal]]
[[Category:Buddhist festivals in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist festivals in Bhutan]]