The Losar Festival also called as the New Year Festival and is the most important festivals celebrated in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. Losar is a traditional festival in Tibetan Buddhism, celebrating the Tibetan New Year. It is one of the most significant festivals in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and India (particularly in regions with a significant Tibetan Buddhist population).Losar typically falls in late February or early March, depending on the Tibetan lunar calendar. It lasts for about 15 days, but the first three days are the most important. Losar is celebrated by the Monpas who forms the major portion of population in Tawang Arunachal Pradesh.
Preparations for Losar begin weeks in advance. Homes are thoroughly cleaned to get rid of the old and make way for the new. People decorate their homes with fragrant flowers and colorful items, and they prepare special foods. Festival of Losar is the time when the Monpas enjoy the time with high festive spirit and prepares for merry making and feasting together with friends and relatives.
People at Tawang do lots of preparations for this most awaited festival, Monpas used to clean their houses and discard all old and unused items to ward off all evil things from life and escort well ness and prosperity of the family.
Time to Celebrate
The celebration of Losar, the Tibetan New Year, is a vibrant and elaborate affair, marked by various customs and traditions. Here’s a detailed look at how Losar is celebrated:
Pre-Losar Preparations
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House Cleaning: In the days leading up to Losar, homes are thoroughly cleaned to remove any negative energy and to make space for good fortune in the coming year.
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Decorations: Homes are decorated with colorful prayer flags, fresh flowers, and new paintings or tapestries. Doors and windows are often adorned with auspicious symbols.
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Food Preparations: Special foods are prepared in advance, including "Kapse" (deep-fried pastry) and "Guthuk" (a special noodle soup consumed on New Year's Eve).
Day 1: Lama Losar
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Monastery Visits: The day begins with visits to local monasteries where people offer prayers, receive blessings from monks, and participate in religious rituals.
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Family Gatherings: Families come together for a festive meal, which includes traditional dishes and beverages. It's a time for sharing and reconnecting with loved ones.
Day 2: King's Losar
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Official Ceremonies: This day involves various government and community ceremonies. In Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, there are grand celebrations at the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple.
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Public Festivities: There are often parades, music, dance performances, and other public celebrations. Traditional Tibetan opera and masked dances are performed, depicting stories of ancient deities and heroes.
Day 3: Choe-kyong Losar
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Offerings to Deities: On this day, people make offerings to protectors and local deities to seek their blessings for the year ahead. This includes the burning of incense and offering of food and drink.
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Outdoor Activities: Families often spend time outdoors, visiting friends and relatives, and enjoying picnics in the mountains or countryside.
Cultural Practices
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Cham Dances: These are sacred masked dances performed by monks in monasteries. They are believed to drive away evil spirits and bring good fortune.
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Losar Greetings: People greet each other with "Tashi Delek," which means "good luck" or "auspicious greetings."
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New Clothes: Wearing new clothes, especially traditional Tibetan attire, is customary. It symbolizes a fresh start and the welcoming of the new year.
Special Foods and Drinks
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Guthuk: This soup is traditionally eaten on the eve of Losar. It contains nine different ingredients, including dried cheese and various grains. The soup also includes dough balls with hidden items that symbolize different traits or fortunes.
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Changkol: A warm alcoholic beverage made from barley, similar to beer, is commonly consumed during Losar festivities.
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Sweet Rice: A dish called "droma" is often served, made from sweet rice, nuts, and dried fruits.
Spiritual and Ritual Practices
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Prayer Flags: New prayer flags are hung outside homes, and old ones are burned to release their prayers into the wind.
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Meditation and Prayer: People spend time in meditation and prayer, visiting temples to light butter lamps and make offerings.