24.38.63.240 at 00:10, 19 April 2026

2026-04-19T00:10:38Z

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{{Short description|Tibetan new year}}
{{Other uses|Losar (disambiguation)}}
{{For|other traditions of celebrating the lunar new year|Lunar New Year}}
{{Parenthetical referencing|date=February 2026}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox holiday|
| holiday_name = Losar
| image = Gumpa.jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| caption = [[Gumpa dance]] in [[Lachung]] during Losar [[Tibetan festivals|Tibetan festival]]
| nickname = Tibetan New Year<br/> Losar
| observedby = [[Tibetan people|Tibetans]], [[Bhutanese people|Bhutanese]], [[Ladakhis]], [[Sherpa people|Sherpas]], [[Tamang people|Tamangs]], [[Monpa people|Monpas]], worldwide [[Tibetan Buddhists]]
| date2020 = 24 February, [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
| date2021 = 12 February
| frequency = Annual
| duration = 15 days
| type = Buddhism
| longtype = [[Tibetan culture]], [[Tibetan Buddhist]], [[New year]]
| significance = Symbolizes the renewal of life, prosperity, and spiritual cleansing
| relatedto = [[Galdan Namchot]], [[Losoong Festival|Losoong]], [[Gyalpo Losar]], [[Tamu Lhosar]], [[Sonam Lhosar]], [[Mayfung]]
| alt =
| official_name =
| litcolor =
| celebrations =
| begins =
| ends =
| date =
| weekday =
| month =
| scheduling =
| firsttime =
| startedby =
}}
{{Tibetan Buddhism}}

'''Losar''' ({{Bo|t=ལོ་གསར་|w=lo-sar}}; "new year"<ref name="Crump">William D. Crump, "Losar" in ''Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide'' (McFarland & Co.: 2008), pp. 237–38.</ref>), also known as the '''Tibetan New Year''', is a festival in [[Tibetan Buddhism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/losar.shtml |title=Buddhism: Losar |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=September 8, 2004}}</ref> The holiday is celebrated on various dates depending on location tradition ([[Tibet]], [[Bhutan]], [[Nepal]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Sikkim]] and [[Ladakh]]).<ref>Peter Glen Harle, [https://books.google.com/books?id=urbWAAAAMAAJ Thinking with Things: Objects and Identity among Tibetans in the Twin Cities] (Ph.D dissertation: [[Indiana University]], 2003), p. 132: "In Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, India and other areas where Tibetan Buddhism is practiced, the dates for Losar are often calculated locally, and often vary from region".</ref><ref>William D. Crump, ''Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide'' (McFarland & Co.: 2008), pp. 237: ""Different traditions have observed Losar on different dates."</ref> The holiday is a [[new year]]'s festival, celebrated on the first day of the [[lunisolar]] [[Tibetan calendar]], which corresponds to a date in February or March in the [[Gregorian calendar]].<ref name="Crump"/> In 2025, the new year commenced on February 28 and was celebrated until March 2. It also commenced the Year of the Female Wood Snake.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/travel/article/20250131-khapse-a-sweet-that-brings-peace-and-tranquility |title=Khapse: A sweet believed to bring peace and tranquility |last=Agrawal |first=Ridhi |website=[[BBC Travel]] |date=2 February 2025 |accessdate=26 February 2025}}</ref>

The variation of the festival in Nepal is called [[Sonam Lhosar|Sonam '''''Lhosar''''']] and is observed about eight weeks earlier than the Tibetan Losar.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SB9mAAAAMAAJ Tibetan Borderlands: PIATS 2003]: ''Proceedings of the International Association of Tibetan Studies'', Oxford, 2003, p. 121: "Yet though their Lhochhar is observed about eight weeks earlier than the Tibetan Losar, the festival is clearly borrowed, and their practice of Buddhism comes increasingly in a Tibetan idiom."</ref>

==History==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 135-S-16-20-16, Tibetexpedition, Neujahrsfest Lhasa.jpg|thumb|Losar celebration in Lhasa, 1938|alt=|262x262px]]
Losar predates the arrival of Buddhism in Tibet and has its roots in a winter [[incense]]-burning custom of the [[Bon religion]]. Tibetan new year is counted by the current year added to 127 BCE, the year the first Tibetan king [[Nyatri Tsenpo]] founded the Yarlung dynasty. During the reign of the ninth Tibetan king, [[Pude Gungyal]] (317–398), it is said that this custom merged with a [[harvest festival]] to form the annual Losar festival.<ref name="Crump"/>

The [[14th Dalai Lama]] (1998: p. 233) frames the importance of consulting the [[Nechung Oracle]] for Losar:
{{Blockquote|For hundreds of years now, it has been traditional for the Dalai Lama, and the Government, to consult Nechung during the New Year festivals.<ref>Gyatso, Tenzin (1988). ''Freedom in Exile: the Autobiography of the Dalai Lama of Tibet'' (rev. ed.: [[Abacus Books]], London. {{ISBN|0-349-11111-1}}</ref>}}

[[Tenzin Wangyal]] (2002: p.xvii) frames his experience of Tibetan cultural practice of Losar in relation to elemental celebrations and offerings to [[Nāga]] (Tibetan: ''Klu''):
{{Blockquote|During Losar, the Tibetan celebration of the new year, we did not drink champagne to celebrate. Instead, we went to the local spring to perform a ritual of gratitude. We made offerings to the ''nagas'', the water spirits who activated the water element in the area. We made smoke offerings to the local spirits associated with the natural world around us. Beliefs and behaviors like ours evolved long ago and are often seen as primitive in the West. But they are not only projections of human fears onto the natural world, as some anthropologists and historians suggest. Our way of relating to the elements originated in the direct experiences by our sages and common people of the sacred nature of the external and internal elements. We call these elements earth, water, fire, air, and space.<ref>[[Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche]] (2002). ''Healing with Form, Energy, and Light''. Ithaca, New York: [[Snow Lion Publications]]. {{ISBN|1-55939-176-6}}</ref>}}Losar is celebrated in the city of [[Dharamshala|Dharamsala]] in India<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=The Best of Photojournalism #21: 1995: The Year in Pictures |publisher=[[Running Press Book Publishers]] |year=1996 |isbn=9781561387724 |location=Philadelphia |pages=142}}</ref> and in other Tibetan Buddhist communities.

==Practice==
[[File:Monk Dancing at the Tibetan Losar (New Year).jpg|thumb| A Tibetan monk performance during Losar at [[Domthok Monastery]] in the [[Kham]] region]]
Losar is celebrated for 15 days, with the main celebrations on the first three days. On the first day of Losar, a beverage called ''changkol'' is made from ''[[chhaang]]'' (a Tibetan-Nepali equivalent of [[beer]]). The second day of Losar is known as King's Losar ''([[Gyalpo Lhosar|gyalpo losar]])''. Losar is traditionally preceded by the five-day practice of [[Vajrakilaya]]. Because the [[Uyghurs]] adopted the [[Chinese calendar]], and the Mongols and Tibetans adopted the Uyghur calendar,<ref>{{cite book | title = Tibetan and Buddhist Studies: Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Alexander Csoma De Koros|volume=2| publisher = University of California Press | year = 1984 | isbn = 9789630535731 | first = Louis | last = Ligeti | pages = 344}}</ref> Losar occurs near or on the same day as the [[Chinese New Year]] and the [[Tsagaan Sar|Mongolian New Year]], but the traditions of Losar are unique to Tibet, and predate both Indian and Chinese influences.

As well as that, the Sherpas are associated with Losar and enjoy Losar in the high altitudes of the Nepal Himalayan Range. Prior to the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950, Losar began with a morning ritual ceremony at [[Namgyal Monastery]], led by the [[Dalai Lama]] and other high-ranking [[lama]]s, with government officials participating, to honor the [[Dharmapala]] (dharma-protector) [[Palden Lhamo]].<ref name="Melton">[[J. Gordon Melton]], "Losar" in ''Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations'', Vol. 1 (ABC-CLIO), 2011), pp. 530–31.</ref> After the Dalai Lama was exiled, many monasteries were destroyed and monks imprisoned. Since that time, Tibetan Buddhist practice in Tibet has been difficult to observe publicly.

Losar forms part of the [[culture of Ladakh]] for Buddhists residing in that region.<ref>{{Cite news |last=ANI |title=Ladakh Buddhist Association celebrates 'Losar' festival in Leh |language=en |url=http://businessworld.in/article/Ladakh-Buddhist-Association-celebrates-Losar-festival-in-Leh-/16-12-2020-354190 |access-date=2021-05-18}}</ref>

In Tibet, various customs are associated with the holiday:

{{blockquote|Families prepare for ''Losar'' some days in advance by thoroughly cleaning their homes; decorating with fragrant flowers and their walls with auspicious signs painted in flour such as the sun, moon, or a reversed [[swastika]]; and preparing [[Cedrus deodara|cedar]], [[rhododendron]], and [[juniper]] branches for burning as incense. Debts are settled, quarrels are resolved, new clothes are acquired, and special foods such as ''kapse'' (fried twists) are made. A favorite drink is ''[[Chhaang|chang]]'' (barley beer) which is served warm. Because the words "sheep's head" and "beginning of the year" sound similar in Tibetan, it is customary to fashion a sheep's head from colored butter as a decoration. Another traditional decoration that symbolizes a good harvest is the ''phyemar'' ("five-grain bucket"), a bucket with a wooden board that creates two vertical halves within. This bucket is filled with ''zanba'' (also known as ''tsamba'', roasted ''qingke'' barley flour) and barley seeds, then decorated with barley ears and colored butter.<ref name="Crump"/>}}

Losar celebrated on the first day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar in Bhutan is called ''Dawa Dangpa Losar.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhutan – The Kingdom with Many New Year Celebrations |url=https://www.dailybhutan.com/article/bhutan-the-kingdom-with-many-new-year-celebrations |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.dailybhutan.com |language=en}}</ref> The losar customs in Bhutan are similar to, but distinct from, customs in neighboring Tibet.<ref name="Mayer">James Mayer, [http://www.festival.si.edu/blog/2013/losar-community-building-and-the-bhutanese-new-year/ Losar: Community Building and the Bhutanese New Year] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228080558/http://www.festival.si.edu/blog/2013/losar-community-building-and-the-bhutanese-new-year/ |date=February 28, 2017 }}, [[Smithsonian Folklife Festival]], [[Smithsonian Institution]] (February 15, 2013).</ref> Modern celebration of the holiday began in Bhutan in 1637, when [[Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal|Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal]] commemorated the completion of the [[Punakha Dzong]] with an inaugural ceremony, in which "Bhutanese came from all over the country to bring offerings of produce from their various regions, a tradition that is still reflected in the wide variety of foods consumed during the ritual Losar meals."<ref name="Mayer"/> Traditional foods consumed on the occasion include [[sugarcane]] and [[green banana]]s, which are considered auspicious.<ref name="Mayer"/> In Bhutan, picnicking, dancing, singing, [[darts|dart-playing]], archery (see [[archery in Bhutan]]), and the giving of offerings are all traditions.<ref name="Mayer"/>

The Dalai Lama blesses many Buddhists in Dharamsala during Losar, from the young to the old, and they form a [[Queue area|queue]]<ref name=":0" /> to manage the number of people who visit the Dalai Lama's temple to do this.

==Dates==
The [[Tibetan calendar]] is a [[lunisolar calendar]]. Losar is celebrated on the first through third days of the first [[lunar month]].
{| class="wikitable"
|-
![[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian Year]]
! Year of Rabjung 60-year Cycle
![[Tibetan calendar|Tibetan Year]]
!Losar Date***
!Gender, Element, and Animal
|-
|2008
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 22||2135
|February 21
|Male Earth Mouse/[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]**
|-
|2009
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 23||2136
|February 10
|Female Earth [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kalacakra.org/calendar/kcal.htm |title=Kālacakra Calendar |website=Kalacakra.org |date=2013-07-27 |access-date=2017-01-21}}</ref>
|-
|2010
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 24||2137
|March 1
|Male Iron [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jewelheart.org/calendar/february.html |title=February 2010 |access-date=2010-01-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308130130/http://www.jewelheart.org/calendar/february.html |archive-date=March 8, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|-
|2011
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 25||2138
|February 18
|Female Iron Hare/[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]**<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tibet-info.net/www/Losar-Nouvel-An-tibetain-en-2011.html?lang=fr |title=Losar, Nouvel An tibétain en 2011 : année 2138 du Lièvre de Fer |website=Tibet-info.net |date=January 5, 2011 |access-date=2017-01-21}}</ref>
|-
|2012
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 26||2139
|February 8
|Male Water [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
|-
|2013
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 27||2140
|February 26
|Female Water [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
|-
|2014
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 28||2141
|February 15
|Male Wood [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
|-
|2015
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 29||2142
|March 6
|Female Wood Sheep/[[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]**
|-
|2016
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 30||2143
|February 23<ref>{{cite web|title=Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute|url=http://www.men-tsee-khang.org/calendar|website=Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute|access-date=January 27, 2016|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922001856/http://www.men-tsee-khang.org/calendar/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|Male Fire [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
|-
|2017
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 31||2144
|February 11
|Female Fire Bird/[[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
|-
|2018
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 32||2145
|March 2
|Male Earth [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
|-
|2019
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 33||2146
|February 20
|Female Earth [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]/Boar**
|-
|2020
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 34||2147
|February 9
|Male Iron Mouse/[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]**
|-
|2021
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 35||2148
|February 27
|Female Earth [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
|-
|2022
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 36||2149
|February 17
|Male Water [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
|-
|2023
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 37||2150
|February 6
|Female Water [[Hare (zodiac)|Hare]]
|-
|2024
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 38||2151
|February 10
|Male Wood [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
|-
|'''2025'''
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 39||2152
|February 28
|Female Wood [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
|-
|'''2026'''
|''rab byung'' 17 ''lo'' 40||2153
|February 18
|Male Fire [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
|}

: * Note: [[Tibetan calendar#Years|Rabjung]] (Wylie: rab byung) is the name of the 60-year cycle of the Tibetan calendar that started in 1027 CE, and is currently in its 17th cycle.
: ** Note: These year names have more than one translation into English with different terms used by different groups.
: *** Note: Losar is celebrated by some international communities at more or less the same time it is celebrated in Asia. For example, for a year when Losar starts on February 1 in Asia time zones, it may be celebrated by some in United States time zones on January 31. Losar celebrations are normally for three days.

==Variations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! [[Tamu Losar]]
! [[Gyalpo Losar]]
! [[Sonam Losar]]
|-
| Ethnicity
| [[Gurung people|Gurung]] community
| [[Sherpa people|Sherpa]] and [[Tibetans|Tibetan]] communities
| [[Tamang people|Tamang]] and [[Yolmo people|Hyolmo]] communities
|-
| Celebration Month
| December or January
| February or March
| December or January
|-
| Days of Celebration
| 1 day
| 15 days
| 3 to 7 days
|-
| Where is it celebrated
| Lamjung, Gorkha, Tanahun, and Kathmandu
| Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, and Solukhumbu
| Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, and communities in Kathmandu
|-
| Festivities
| Cultural programs, traditional music, and family gatherings
| Cleaning and decorating homes, family gatherings, visiting monasteries for prayers, music, and dances
| Cultural events, Visiting monasteries
|-
| Traditional Dances
| Chandi and [[Ghatu (dance)|Ghatu]]
| Ghorsey, Cham, and [[Syabru (dance)|Syabru]]
| [[Tamang Selo]]
|-
| Food and beverages
| [[Sel roti]], [[tongba]]
| [[Guthuk]] soup and [[Khapse]]
| Sel roti, [[Gundruk]], Khapse
|}

==See also==
* [[Galdan Namchot]]
* [[Losoong Festival]]
* [[Lunar New Year]]
* [[Vikram Samvat|Nepali calendar]]
* [[Tibetan astrology]]
* [[Tibetan calendar]]
* [[Lunar New Year]]: Celebrations of Lunar New Year in other parts of Asia
* [[South and Southeast Asian solar New Year]]: Similar Asian Lunisolar New Year celebrations that occur in April:
* [[Mayfung]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

{{New Year by Calendar}}

{{Portal bar|Nepal|China|Asia|Holidays}}

[[Category:Culture of Nepal]]
[[Category:National symbols of Sikkim]]
[[Category:Culture of Bhutan]]
[[Category:Symbols of Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Public holidays in Nepal]]
[[Category:Public holidays in Bhutan]]
[[Category:New Year celebrations]]
[[Category:Tibetan festivals]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Nepal]]
[[Category:January observances]]
[[Category:February observances]]
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist festivals]]
[[Category:March observances]]
[[Category:Observances set by the Tibetan calendar]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Tibet]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]
[[Category:Festivals in Nepal]]
[[Category:Festivals in Bhutan]]
[[Category:Observances held on the new moon]]

Losar - Revision history

24.38.63.240 at 00:10, 19 April 2026